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Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Giftoi  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/historyofnewyorkOObeau_0 


Published  monthly  by  the 

University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


BULLETIN  329 


FEBRUARY    1905 


New  York  State  Museum 

Bulletin  78 
ARCHEOLOGY  9 

A  HISTORY  OK 

THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 

NOW    COMMONLY    CALLED    THE    SIX    NATIONS 
BY 

WILLIAM  M.  BEAUCHAMP  S.T.D. 


I'AGE 

Note 125 

Preface 126 

List  of  authorities 128 

Chapter    1 131 

2 137 

3 144 

4 154 

5 167 

6 176 

7 186 

8 198 

9 210 

10 218 

11 227 

12 23* 

13 249 


PAGE 

Chapter  14 259 

IS 270 

16 279 

17 291 

J8 302 

l9 310 

-o 320 

21 329 

22 338 

23 346 

24 358 

25 371 

26 384 

Explanation  of  plates 393 

Index 429 


ALBANY 

NEW    YORK    STATE    EDUCATION    DEPARTMENT 
1905 

Mi3im-N3-25oo  Price  75  cents 


STATE   OF   NEW   YORK 
EDUCATION  DEPARTMENT 

Regents  of  the  University 
With  years  when  terms  expire 

1913  Whitelaw  Reid  M.A.  LL.D.  Chancellor     -    •    -  New  York 

1906  St  Clair  McKelway  M.A.  L.H.D.  LL.D.  D.C.L. 

Vice  Chancellor        ----------  Brooklyn 

1908  Daniel  Beach  Ph.D.  LL.D.     -------  Watkins 

1914  Pliny  T.  Sexton  LL.D.      --------  Palmyra 

1912  T.  Guilford  Smith  M.A.  C.E.  LL.D.     -     -     -    -  Buffalo 

1905  Albert  Vander  Veer   M.D.  M.A.  Ph.D.  LL.D.  Albany 

1907  William  Nottingham  M.A.  Ph.D.  LL.D.      -     -  Syracuse 

1910  Charles  A.  Gardiner  Ph.D.  L.H.D.  LL.D.  D.C.L.  New  York 

1915  Charles  S.  Francis  B.S.     --------  Troy 

191 1  Edward  Lauterbach  M.A.      -------  New  York 

1909  Eugene  A.  Philbin  LL.B.  LL.D.     -----  New  York 

Commissioner  of  Education 

Andrew  S.  Draper  LL.D. 

Assistant  Commissioners 

Howard  J.  Rogers  M.A.  LL.D.  First  Assistant  Commissioner 
Edward  J.  Goodwin  Lit.D.  Second  Assistant  Commissioner 
Augustus  S.  Downing  M.A.  Third  Assistant  Commissioner 

Secretary  to  the  Commissioner 

Harlan  H.  Horner  B.A. 

Director  of  Libraries  and  Home  Education 

Melvil  Dewey  LL.D. 

Director  of  Science  and  State  Museum 

John  M.  Clarke  LL.D. 

Chiefs   of   Divisions 

Accounts,  William  Mason 
Attendance,  James  D.  Sullivan 
Examinations,  Charles  F.  Wheelock  B.S. 
Inspections,  Frank  H.  Wood  M.A. 
Law,  Thomas  E.  Finegan  M.  A. 
Records,  Charles  E.  Fitch  L.H.D. 
Statistics,  Hiram  C.  Case 


University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


New  York  State  Museum 


Bulletin  78 
ARCHEOLOGY  9 

A     HISTORY     OF     THE     NEW     YORK     IROQUOIS 

NOW    COMMONLY   CALLED  THE   SIX    NATIONS 

NOTE 

The   interest   displayed   by   the  citizens   of   New   York   in   the 

bulletins  prepared  by  Dr  Beauchamp  on  the  various  implements 
and  ornaments  used  by  the  New  York  Indians  and  his  bulletin 
on  their  tribal  distribution,  has  led  me  to  suggest  to  him  the 
preparation  of  a  history  of  the  Six  Nations.  This  has  accord- 
ingly been  written  and  is  now  at  the  service  of  all  those  inter- 
ested in  these  early  inhabitants  of  the  State,  who.  while  at 
time>  they  were  much  to  be  dreaded  as  enemies,  have  probably 
in  one  way  or  another,  greatly  aided  the  white  man  in  his  early 
attempts  at  settlement.  Unable  to  assimilate  civilization,  they 
have  gradually  passed  away  and  left  to  their  successors,  pre- 
dominantly Anglo-Saxon,  the  task  of  recording  for  posterity 
what  i>  known  of  their  history,  distribution  and  customs. 

Frederick  I.  H.  Merrill 


126  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

PREFACE 

The  need  oi  a  simple,  systematic  and  yet  comprehensive  history 
of  the  Six  Nations,  or  Konosioni,  has  long  been  felt,  and  one 
seems  required  for  the  study  of  New  York  antiquities.  In  the 
following  pages  all  events  have  been  placed  in  due  order  and 
taken  from  original  sources.  Secondhand  errors  have  been 
avoided  or  corrected  when  possible,  and  the  general  history  has 
been  brought  down  to  the  present  day.  The  results  of  field 
exploration  have  been  briefly  stated,  because  treated  to  some 
extent  in  previous  papers.  It  must  also  be  remembered  that 
many  things  are  set  forth  in  a  sentence  or  paragraph  of  which 
we  have  ample  details,  sufficient  to  fill  many  pages  with  humor- 
ous, pathetic  or  tragic  incidents.  To  give  these  would  require 
many  volumes,  and  it  seems  better  to  be  now  content  with  orderly 
arrangement  and  brief  details,  referring  the  deeper  student  to 
original  sources.  It  has  not  been  thought  necessary  to  verify 
every  statement  or  quotation  from  these  by  direct  references. 
Charlevoix,  Champlain,  the  Jesuit  Relations,  Colden,  Zeisberger 
and  others  are  sufficiently  indicated,  but  most  statements  relating 
to  Xew  York  and  Canada  are  from  the  various  colonial  docu- 
ments of  Xew  York,  published  by  the  State;  and  those  on  Penn- 
sylvania from  its  archives  and  colonial  records,  which  are  easily 
found  by  their  dates.  Parkman's  graphic  works  are  referred 
to  as  valuable  and  of  easy  access,  but  his  sources  of  original  in- 
formation have  been  used  in  preference. 

While  many  events  have  been  summarized,  others  of  less 
apparent  importance  have  been  given  more  fully,  because  they 
bear  on  the  ordinary  life  of  the  people,  or  the  character  and 
appearance  of  notable  men.  How  sour-  warriors  and  orators 
looked  and  acted,  how  some  councils  were  conducted,  may  be  as 
interesting  as  to  tell  how  many  were  killed  and  scalped  in  in- 
glorious forest  tights.  In  national  progress  the  character  of  one 
man  may  show  that  of  many,  and  in  early  Iroquois  history  there 
were  men  of  dignity,  virtue  and  great  natural  gifts. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  12J 

It  is  possible  to  make  a  map  of  all  known  Iroquois  towns  which 
would  be  approximately  correct,  but  the  names  of  many  are 
unknown  and  the  dates  are  conjectural.  Mr  L.  H.  Morgan  issued 
one  of  much  interest,  but  it  covers  only  one  period,  is  largely  tra- 
ditional and  has  no  reference  to  early  times.  On  the  whole,  it 
has  been  thought  better  to  give  a  series  of  maps  from  Champlain 
onward,  replacing  the  obscure  names  of  places  by  numeral  refer- 
ences to  lists  admitting  of  some  explanation.  The  well  known 
Jesuit  map  of  the  Iroquois  country  in  1665  is  omitted  from  these 
because  of  its  lack  of  details,  and  others  for  other  reasons.  Those 
given  are  among  the  best  of  early  maps,  and  interesting  and 
peculiar  features  will  be  found  in  all.  At  the  suggestion  of 
Dr  F.  J.  H.  Merrill,  however,  a  map  of  probable  tribal  distribu- 
tion about  1600,  has  been  prepared  by  the  writer. 

W.  M.  Beauchamp 

Syracuse,  March  25,  1904 


128  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

LIST  OF  AUTHORITIES 

Bartram,  John.  Observations  on  the  Inhabitants.  Climate,  Soil,  Rivers. 
Productions,  Animals.  .  .in  his  Travels  from  I'ensilvania  to  Onondago, 
Oswego  and  the  Lake  Ontario.     Lond.  1751. 

Reprinted  at  Geneva  X.  Y.  189"». 

Beauchamp,    W.    M.     Hi-a-wat-ha.     Jour.    Am.    Folk-lore.      Bost.    1891. 

Permanency  of  Iroquois  Clans  and  Sachemships. 

Read  at  Ann  Arbor  meeting  of  the  a.  A.  A.  s.  in  '8S5.    Published  in  American  Antiquarian 
Chicago   1886,  and   Proceedings  of  A.  A.  A.  S.,  Cambridge  1886. 
The    Indian    Prayer    Book.     Church    Eclectic,    p. 415-22.     Utica,    i88r. 

(Quoted  by  James  C.  Filling:  in  JiibHogtaphy  of  the  lroquoian  Language*,  Wash.  1888. 

The  Iroquois  Trail;    or.  Foot-prints  of  the  Six  Nations.     Fayette- 


ville    N.  Y.  1892. 

This  includes  David  Cn<ick>  history 

The  New  Religion  of  the  Iroquois.     Jour.  Am.  Folk-lore.     Bost.  1897. 


Bruyas,  Jacques.     Radices   Verborum    [roquaeorum;    ed.   by  J.   G.   Shea. 

N.  Y.  1863. 

Radical  Words  of  the  Mohawk  Language.     K.  Y.  State  Mils.  16th  Ad.  TCep't,  Appendix  E. 

Alb.  1803 
Cammerhoff,   Frederick.     Diary   of  the  Journey  of   Br.   Cammerhoff  and 

David  Zeisberger  to  the  5  Nations  from  3/14  May  to  6/17  August.  1750. 
Manuscript.     Al-o  other  Moravian  journals. 
Campbell,  William  W.     Annals  of  Tryon   county.     N.    Y.    1831. 
Carrington,    Henry   B.     Condition   of  the   Six   Nations   of   New    York,   in 

Thomas   Donaldson's  report   in   the   census  of   1890.     Wash.   1892. 
Champlain,   Samuel   de.     Oeuvres   de   Champlain,    publiees    sons   le   patron- 
age   de    I'Universite    Laval,    par    I' Abbe    C.    II.    Laverdiere.     Quebec    1870. 
Charlevoix,  P.  F.  X.  de.     History  and  General  Description  of  Xew  France, 

by  Charlevoix;    tr.  and  ed.  by  J.  G.  Shea.     N.  Y.  1900. 
Journal   of  a   Voyage... to   North   America;    tr.   from   the    French. 

Lond.  1 76 1 . 
Clark,  John  S.      Note  to  Dr  Hawley's  Mohawk  missions  in  Auburn  paper. 
Clark,  J.  V.   H.     Onondaga;    or.   Reminiscences  of   Earlier  and   Later  Times. 

Syracuse   1849. 
Colden,    Cadwallader.      History    of    the    Five    Indian    Nations   of    Canada. 

Lond.    1755. 
Conover,  George  S.  comp.     Journals  of  the  Military   Expedition  of  Major 

General    John    Sullivan    against    the    Six    Nations    of    Indians    in     1770. 

Auburn   1K87. 

Also  several  pamphlets  on  local  Indian  history. 

Coyne,  James  H.     Exploration  of  the  Great  Lakes.    i(>(k)-7o.   Toronto  1903. 

(.alinees  narrative  anil  map,  translated  and  edited  by  J.  H.  Coyne. 

Cusick,   David.     Sketches  of   Ancient    History   of  the   Six    Nations,     Lewis 
ton   [826. 

Set  alto  Iroquois  Trail  by  w.  M.  Beauchamp. 
Dawson,  Sir  J.  W.      Fossil  Men  and  their  Modern   Representatives.      Lond. 
1883. 

Quotation!  from  ('artier. 

Dean,  James.     Mythology  of  the   Iroquois;    or,  Six   Nations  of   Indians. 
An  Oneida  legend  in  manuscript;  copj  in  the  N.  Y.  state  Library. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    NEW    YORK    [ROQUOIS  12() 

De    la    Potherie,    Bacqueville.      Histoire    de    l'Amerique    Septentrionale. 

Paris  1722. 
De   Peyster,  J.  Watts.     Orderly    Book   of   Sir  John   Johnson    during  the 

Oriskany   Campaign,   1776-1777.     Alb.    1882. 
De  Vries,   David   Petersen.     Third  Voyage   of   David   Petersen   de   Vries 

to  North  America.     N.  V.  Hist.  Soc.  Trans.     Ser.  2.  v. 3.  N.  Y.  1857. 
Dunlap,   William.     History   of   the    New    Netherlands.    Province   of    New 

York  and  State  of  New  York.     N.  Y.   1839. 
Gallatin,  Albert.     Synopsis  of  the  Indian  Tribes  East  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains.    Am.    Antiquarian    Soc.    Trans.     Cambridge    1836. 
Hale,  Horatio.     The   Iroquois  Book  of  Rites.     Phil.   1883. 
Halsey,  Francis  W.     The  Old  New  York  Frontier.     N.  Y.  1901. 
Hazard,    Samuel.     Minutes    of    the    Provincial    Council    of    Pennsylvania. 

1 682- 1 790.     Phil. 

cd.      Pennsylvania    Archives.    1664-1790.      Phil.    1852-56. 

Heckewelder,   J.    G.    E.     History.    Manners    and    Customs    of   the    Indian 

Nations   who    once    Inhabited    Pennsylvania.     Pennsylvania    Hist.    Soc. 

Memoirs,    v. 12.     Phil.  1876. 
Hennepin,  Louis.     Description  de  la  Louisiane.     Paris  1683. 

Quotation   made    from   the  Catholic  Church  in  the  Xiagara  Peninsula,   by    Dean  Harris. 
Toronto  1895. 

Hunter,  A.  F.  Various  papers  on  the  Huron  country  appended  to  reports 
of  the  minister  of  education,  Ontario.  Can.     Toronto. 

Indian  Problem.  Report  of  Special  Committee  to  Investigate  the  Indian 
Problem  of  the  State  of  New  York.     Alb.  1889. 

Jesuit  Relations.     Relations  1611-1672.     Quebec  1858. 

Translation;'  with  allied  documents,  1610-1791  ;  afterward  published  by  Burrow?,  Cleveland  O. 

Kalm,  Peter.  Travels  into  North  America  (1749);  tr.  by  J.  R.  Forster. 
Lond.   1772. 

Ketchum,  William.      Buffalo  and  the  Senecas.     Buffalo  1864. 

Lafitau,  J.  F.     Moeurs  des  sauvages  ameriquains.     Paris  1724. 

Lahontan,  A.  L.  de  D.     New  Voyages  to  North  America.     Lond.  1735. 

Loskiel,  G.  H.  History  of  the  Mission  of  the  United  Brethren  among  the 
Indians  in  North  America;    tr.  by  C.  I.  La  Trobe.     Lond.   1794. 

Lothrop,  Samuel  K.  Life  of  Samuel  Kirkland,  Missionary  to  the  In- 
dians.    Bost.  1864. 

Marshall,  O.  H.  Narrative  of  the  Expedition  of  the  Marquis  de  Non- 
ville  against  the  Senecas  in  1687.  N.  Y.  Hist.  Soc.  Collections.  Ser.  2. 
v.  2.     N.  Y.  1848. 

Marshe,  Witham.  Journal  of  the  Treaty  held  with  the  Six  Nations  by 
the  Commissioners  of  Maryland  and  Other  Provinces  in  Lancaster  in 
Pennsylvania.  June  1744.  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Collections.  t8ot.  Ser.  t. 
v.  7. 

Massachusetts.     1 1  i st .  Soc.   Collections,  sec  Marshe. 

Megapolensis,  J.  Short  Sketch  of  the  Mohawk  Indians  in  New  Nether- 
land,  etc.     N.  Y.  Hist.  Soc.     Ser.  2.  v.  3.     N.  Y.  1857. 

Morgan,  L.  H.  League  of  the  Ho-de-no-sau-nee.  or  [roquois.  Rochester 
1851. 

Morse,  Jedidiah.  Report  to  the  Secretary  of  War  of  the  United  States 
on  Indian  Affairs.     New  Haven  1822. 


13°  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

O'Callaghan,  E.  B.  ed.     Documentary  History  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

Alb.  1849-51. 
ed.     Documents  Relative  to  the  Colonial  History  of  the  State  of 

New  York.    Alb.  1853-87. 
Parish,  Jasper,  see  Ketchum;    Hazard,  Pennsylvania  Archives. 
Parkman,  Francis.     Works.     Bost.  i&— . 
Perrot,  Nicholas,  see  Charlevoix. 
Pouchot,  M.     Memoir  upon  the  Late  War  in  North  America  between  the 

French  and  English,  1755-60;    tr.  and  ed.  by  Franklin  B.  Hough.     Rox- 

bury  Mass.  1866. 
Proctor,      Col.   Thomas.    Journal   of   1791.     Pennsylvania   Archives.     New 

ser.  v.  4.     Phil.  1852-56.    See  Ketchum;    Hazard. 
Ruttenber,  E.  M.     History  of  the  Indian  Tribes  of  Hudson's  River     Alb 

1872. 
Sagard,  Gabriel.       Le  grand  voyage  du  pays  des  Hurons,  etc.     Paris   1865. 
Schoolcraft,  Henry  R.     Notes  on  the  Iroquois.     N.  Y.  1846. 

Senate  document  24,  N.  Y.  1846. 
Seaver,  James  E.     Deh-he-wa-mis;    or,  A  Narrative  of  the  Life  of  Mary 

Jemison.    Batavia  N.  Y.   1842. 
Severance,  Frank  H.     Old  Trails  of  the  Niagara  Frontier.     Buffalo  1899. 
Shea,  John  Gilmary.     History  of  the   Catholic  Missions  among  the   In- 
dian Tribes  of  the  United  States.     N.  Y.  1881. 
Smith,   William.     History  of  New   York   from  the  First  Discovery  to  the 

year  MDCCXXXII.     Alb.  1814. 
Stone,  William  L.     Life  and  Times  of  Red  Jacket,  or  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha. 

N.  Y.  1841. 

Life  of  Joseph  Brant — Thayendanegea.     N.  Y.  1838. 

Van  der  Donck,  Adriaen.     Description  of  the  New  Netherlands.     N.  Y. 

Hist.  Soc.  Collections.     Ser.  2.  v.  1.     N.  Y.  1841. 
Williams,  Roger.     A  Key  into  the  Language  of  America;    ed.  by  J.  H. 

Trumbull.     Narragansett  Club  Publications.     1866-74. 
Wilson,  James  Grant.     Arent  Van  Curler  and  his  Journey  of  1634-35,  from 

Annual  Report  of  Am.  Hist.  Soc.     Wash.  1896. 
Winsor,    Justin.     Cartier    to    Frontenac.      Geographical    Discovery    in    the 

Interior  of  North  America,  etc.     Bost.  1894. 

Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America;    ed.  by  Justin  Winsor. 

Bost.  1888. 

Zeisberger,    David.     Diary    of    David    Zcisbcrgcr,    a    Moravian    Missionary 

among  the  Indians  of  Ohio.     Cin.  1885. 
Manuscript  journals  of  travels  in  New  York  1752-66. 


A    HISTORY    OF  THE    NEW    YORK    IRO- 
QUOIS, NOW  COMMONLY  CALLED 
THE   SIX    NATIONS 

Chapter  i 

Iroquois  and  Algonquins.  Distribution.  Iroquois  legends.  Religious 
belief.  Creative  myths.  Stories  of  origin  and  migration.  Real  migra- 
tions.    Huron-Iroquois  family.     Language.     Opinions  on  this. 

When  Europeans  first  reached  the  interior  of  New  York,  it 
was  occupied  by  two  Indian  families,  known  as  Iroquois  and 
Algonquin.  The  latter  held  all  the  Hudson  river  valley,  the  high- 
lands below  the  Catskill  mountains,  and  all  of  Long  Island,  being 
closely  related  to  the  New  England  Indians.  The  former  occu- 
pied the  valley  of  Schoharie  creek,  and  westward  to  the  Genesee 
river,  with  vacant  territory  beyond.  On  their  southwestern  line 
were  the  Susquehannas,  or  Andastes,  and  farther  west  were  the 
Eries  and  the  Neutral  nation,  all  three  kindred  to  them.  For 
200  years  the  Iroquois  were  a  great  factor  in  the  safety/  and 
progress  of  the  European  settlements,  and  another  century  found 
them  but  little  diminished  in  numbers,  while  many  still  clung 
to  their  early  homes.  A  people  so  important,  so  powerful,  so 
permanent,  deserves  more  than  mere  recognition. 

The  Iroquois  had  a  strong,  but  in  some  ways  very  vague  reli- 
gious belief.  Unseen  deities  ruled  their  lives  through  mystic 
dreams,  and  these  dreams  must  always  be  observed,  however 
unpleasant  this  might  be.  All  things  to  them  had  a  tinge  of  the 
supernatural.  Trees,  rocks  and  animals  had  an  inner  soul.  There 
were  viewless  spirits,  fairies  and  flying  heads.  Stone  giants  and 
monstrous  beasts  were  frequent.  The  great  Holder  of  the 
Heavens  was  a  dwarf  in  size;  for  what  need  had  omnipotent 
power  of  physical  strength?  The  beasts  of  the  forest  were  their 
ancient  kindred,  necessary  for  food  but  reverently  treated. 
Sacrifices  were  few  and  simple.  In  a  certain  way  captives  might 
have  been  offered  to  Aireskoi  at  an  early  day,  or  a  white  dog  to 


132  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

the  Great  Spirit  at  a  later  time,  but  offerings  were  usually  sim- 
pler; some  tobacco  burned,  a  pipe  or  beads  dropped  at  some 
sacred  place,  were  the  common  gifts.  Worship  was  by  singing 
or  dancing;   seldom  with  prayer. 

Though  the  myths  in  which  the  origin  of  many  nations  is  in- 
volved are  to  be  taken  with  reservations,  they  may  have  interest 
and  value.  Those  of  the  Iroquois  are  many  and  conflicting.  The 
creative  myth,  in  which  the  woman  falls  from  the  sky,  alighting 
on  the  turtle's  back,  which  thenceforth  supports  the  world,  was 
not  peculiar  to  the  Iroquois,  being  told  by  others  with  varying 
details.  The  creature  which  at  last  brings  up  earth  from  the 
bottom  of  the  sea,  using  it  for  the  germ  of  the  great  island  of 
America,  is  not  always  the  same,  nor  do  all  relate  the  later  events 
alike.  When  the  woman's  descendants  appear,  there  is  a  greater 
variation  still.  David  Cusick's  story  of  the  two  children,  the 
Good  and  Bad  Mind,  is  well  known.  Mr  James  Dean,  the  inter- 
preter, gave  the  Oneida  story  with  other  particulars.  The  father 
of  the  children  lived  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  lured  the 
Good  Mind  to  his  home,  to  save  him  from  the  malice  of  his 
mother  and  brother,  and  tell  him  what  to  do.  The  great  contest 
began  after  this,  with  its  peculiar  weapons.  When  slain,  the 
flinty  body  of  the  Evil  Mind  became  the  great  range  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains. 

The  Seneca  chief  Canassatego — not  the  earlier  Onondaga  of 
that  name — had  another  tale  of  man's  creation.  One  of  their 
deities  raised  the  land  of  Konosioni  above  the  waters,  and  sowed 
five  handfuls  of  red  seed  in  it.  From  these  came  the  Five 
Nations;  prosperous  when  following  his  advice,  unfortunate 
when  disregarding  it. 

The  story  of  national  origin  and  migration  is  not  always  the 
same.  The  Delaware  tradition  is  that  the  Delaware's  and  the 
Five  Nations  came  eastward  together,  side  by  side  and  harmoni- 
ously, dispossessing  those  who  were  in  the  way  and  amicably 
dividing  the  land.     There  is  some  ground  for  part  of  this. 

David  Cusick,  the  Tuscarora  historian,  had  a  different  tale  to 
tell.     The  people  were  hid  in  a  great   mountain  at  Oswego  Falls, 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  133 

and,  on  their  release  by  Tarenyawagon,  went  down  the  Mohawk 
and  Hudson  to  the  sea.  Six  families  returned,  five  settling  suc- 
cessively as  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Onondagas,  Cayugas  and 
Senecas,  varying  their  language  and  becoming  distinct  nations. 
The  sixth  passed  Lake  Erie,  part  crossing  the  Mississippi  and 
part  remaining  behind.  The  latter  turned  eastward,  entered 
North  Carolina  and  became  the  Tuscaroras.  In  later  days  a 
league  was  formed.  Though  some  have  accepted  this  order  of 
settlement,  an  examination  of  sites  discredits  this  westward 
march,  the  Mohawks  entering  New  York  last  of  all. 

Nicholas  Perrot,  the  French  interpreter,  an  early  and  good 
authority,  said :  "  The  country  of  the  Iroquois  was  formerly 
Montreal  and  Three  Rivers.  .  .Their  removal  was  in  con- 
sequence of  a  quarrel  unexpectedly  occurring  between  them  and 
the  Algonquins.  .  .This  explains  why  these  also  claim  the 
island  of  Montreal  as  the  land  of  their  ancestor-." 

This  alludes  to  a  well  known  tale,  and  Champlain  said,  still 
earlier,  that  the  Iroquois  left  there  "  more  than  60  acres  of  de- 
serted land  which  are  like  prairies."  The  Iroquois  whom  he  knew 
were  Mohawks,  though  he  encountered  the  Oneidas. 

Lafitau  quoted  an  early  tradition,  mentioned  by  him  alone: 
"  The  Mohawk  Iroquois,  it  is  said,  assert  that  they  wandered  a 
long  time  under  the  conduct  of  a  woman  named  Gaihonariosk  ; 
this  woman  led  them  about  through  all  the  north  of  America, 
and  made  them  pass  to  a  place  where  the  town  of  Quebec  is  now 
situated.     .     .     This  is  what  the  Agniers  tell  of  their  origin." 

In  M.  Pouchot's  Memoirs,  he  speaks  of  Sandy  creek  in  Jeffer- 
son county.  N.  Y. : 

The  River  All  Sables,  in  Indian  Etcataragarenre,  is  remarkable 
in  this,  that  at  the  head  of  the  south  branch,  called  Tecanonoua- 
ronesi,  is  the  place  where  the  traditions  of  the  Iroquois  fix  the 
spot  where  they  issued  from  the  ground,  or  rather,  according  to 
their  ideas,  where  they  were  born. 

Indian  forts  are  frequent  there,  and  it  seems  an  early  home  of 
the  (  )nondagas.  I  >n  their  migration  farther  south  that  people 
had  a  similar  tale  of  their  first  fort  at  Oswego  Falls.    There  they 


134  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

seem  to  have  first  settled  in  that  region,  as  it  were  coming  out  of 
the  ground,  for  others  of  their  people  followed.  This  tradition 
is  probable  and  well  sustained.  They  say  they  came  from  the 
north,  along  the  St  Lawrence,  whence  straggling  bands  followed 
their  pioneers.  In  process  of  time,  urged  by  the  war,  others  came, 
all  then  seeking  the  highlands,  and  were  called  Onondagas  from 
their  home  on  the  hills  where  they  found  a  safe  refuge.  Their 
further  tradition  is  of  the  same  gradual  occupation,  the  Bear 
and  AYolf  tribes  originating  near  Oswego  Falls,  the  Beaver  and 
Heron  or  Snipe  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  the  Eel  and  Turtle 
on  Seneca  river,  and  the  Deer  and  Hawk  on  the  Onondaga  hills. 
An  Onondaga  chief  once  testified  that  they  came  to  Onondaga 
by  way  of  Oriskany,  and  some  may  have  done  so. 

Both  Clark  and  Schoolcraft  mention  a  tradition  that  the 
Oneidas  originated  with  some  Onondagas,  who  left  their  homes 
and  settled  at  the  mouth  of  Oneida  creek,  removing  thence  to  the 
vicinity  of  Munnsville,  and  thence  to  Oneida  Castle.  The  objec- 
tions are  that  they  are  closely  allied  to  the  Mohawks  in  every 
way,  and  that  their  homes  at  the  lake  and  Oneida  Castle  were 
settled  in  the  middle  of  the  18th  century,  and  not  before  the 
league  was  formed. 

Except  the  simple  one  of  David  Cusick  there  is  no  tradition  of 
Cayuga  origin,  but  they  probably  entered  New  York  from  the 
west,  with  or  preceding  the  Senecas. 

The  general  Seneca  tradition  is  well  known,  relating  that  that 
nation  had  its  first  seat  on  a  large  hill  at  the  head  of  Canandaigua 
lake.  Xo  remains  of  importance  are  known  there,  and  the  serpent 
story  is  supposed  to  belong  to  Bare  hill  on  the  eastern  shore, 
where  was  an  early  fort.  Briefly  the  tale  is  of  a  curious  snake, 
caught  and  brought  home  by  a  boy,  which  developed  an  enormous 
appetite  and  grew  to  a  great  size.  Lying  outside  the  gate,  he 
devoured  the  inmates  as  they  came  forth,  till  only  a  boy  and 
girl  were  left.  The  boy  destroyed  the  monster  with  a  charmed 
arrow  and  recovered  many  of  his  friends,  but  all  sought  a  new 
home.  One  explanation  of  this  favorite  [roquois  tale  is  that 
the  tort   was  besieged  by  a  powerful   foe.  or  that  something  near 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  135 

by  produced  a  pestilence.  The  story  seems  to  belong  to  but 
one  of  the  two  great  bands  of  the  Senecas.  The  spot  had  its 
common  name  from  being  bare  of  trees  when  first  known  to  the 
whites. 

Aside  from  Cusick's  legend  all  that  we  know  of  the  Tuscaroras 
falls  within  historic  times. 

Of  the  Iroquois  nations  mentioned,  five  were  already  in  New 
York  when  Champlain  and  Hudson  entered  it  in  1609.  The 
Mohawks  had  come  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain  from  the  north ; 
the  Oneidas  from  the  same  direction,  apparently  leaving  the  St 
Lawrence  at  Oswegatchie  river  and  tarrying  in  that  region  for  a 
time ;  the  Onondagas  had  gradually  migrated  from  Jefferson 
county  to  the  Oswego  and  Seneca  rivers,  hastening  their  move- 
ments and  seeking  the  hills  farther  south  when  the  great  war 
broke  out  late  in  the  16th  century;  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas 
had  come  by  way  of  Niagara  river  much  earlier  than  this,  moving 
eastward  unmolested.  Thus  are  differences  of  dialects  recon- 
ciled with  other  facts. 

Something  may  be  said  of  the  family  elsewhere  as  well  as  here. 
The  Five  Nations  were  known  to  Champlain  as  the  Iroquois 
and  Entouhonorons,  and  to  the  Dutch  as  Maquas  and  Senecas; 
both  indicating  the  Mohawks  by  the  first  name  and  classing  four 
others  under  the  second.  Their  territory  included  Schoharie  val- 
ley on  the  east,  not  reaching  the  Hudson.  Westward  their  villages 
then  almost  reached  Genesee  river,  and  they  probably  had  towns 
farther  west  before  the  Huron  war.  West  of  them  was  the 
Neutral  nation,  occupying  both  sides  of  Niagara  river  and  the 
north  side  of  Lake  Erie,  permitting  the  passage  of  Huron  and 
Iroquois  warriors,  but  forbidding  violence  in  this.  North  of  these 
were  the  Hurons  or  Wyandots,  the  good  Iroquois  of  Champlain, 
and  sometimes  the  Ochateguins,  from  one  of  their  chiefs.  They 
termed  the  Neutrals  Attiwandaronks,  Those  of  a  Language  a 
little  different,  and  had  the  same  name  in  turn.  North  of  these 
were  the  Tionontaties,  People  beyond  the  Mountains,  so  called 
from  the  hills  between  them  and  the  Hurons,  but  better  known 
as  the  Petun  or  Tobacco  nation,  from  raising  and  trading  with 


136  •         NEW    YORK    STATE   MUSEUM 

that  herb.  More  rarely  they  were  at  one  time  called  the  Nez 
Perces,  or  Indians  with  Little  Holes  through  their  Noses;  a 
name  better  applied  to  Indians  west  of  them. 

South  of  Lake  Erie  were  the  Eries,  another  large  branch  of  the 
family,  and  all  along  the  Susquehanna,  from  the  Xew  York  line 
to  the  sea,  including  part  of  Delaware,  was  still  another  branch, 
the  Minquas  of  the  Dutch,  the  Andastes  of  the  French.  All  these 
spoke  dialects  of  the  Iroquois  tongue,  and  may  have  radiated  in 
their  later  migrations  from  some  spot  near  the  east  end  of  Lake 
Erie.  As  yet  separated  by  hostile  tribes  from  the  Xew  York  Iro- 
quois were  two  southern  branches,  the  Tuscaroras  and  Cherokees, 
the  former  one  day  to  become  the  sixth  nation,  and  the  latter  to 
be  a  stubborn  foe  of  the  confederacy. 

In  Canada,  Xew  England  and  southern  Xew  York  were  the 
Algonquin  tribes,  and  others  of  these  were  encountered  when  the 
Hurons,  Eries  and  Neutrals  were  out  of  the  way. 

From  the  Algonquins  all  were  distinguished  by  language  and 
partially  by  habits  of  life.  The  Algonquins  used  labials  freely ; 
the  Huron-Iroquois  not  at  all,  and  their  language  has  been  much 
discussed.  Father  Brebeuf  said,  in  1636:  "The  variety  of  com- 
pounds is  very  great ;  it  is  the  key  to  the  secret  of  their  language. 
They  have  as  many  genders  as  ourselves;  as  many  numbers  as 
the  Greeks."  Prof.  Max  Miiller  wrote  :  "  To  my  mind  the  struc- 
ture of  such  a  language  as  the  Mohawk  is  quite  sufficient  evidence 
that  those  who  worked  out  such  a  work  of  art  were  powerful 
reasoners  and  accurate  classifiers." 

Mr     Horatio    Hale,    the    eminent    Canadian    philologist,    said: 

A  complete  grammar  of  this  speech,  as  full  and  minute  as  the 
best  Sanscrit  or  Greek  grammars,  would  probably  equal  and  per- 
haps surpass  those  grammars  in  extent.  The  unconscious  forces 
of  memory  and  of  discrimination  required  to  maintain  this  com- 
plicated machine,  and  to  preserve  it  constantly  exact  and  in 
good  working  order,  must  be  prodigious. 

Mr    I  [ale  also  said  : 

Philologists  arc  well  aware  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  American  [ndians  to  favor  the  conjecture  (for  it  is 
nothing  else)  which  derives  the  race  from  eastern  Asia.    But  in 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  137 

western  Europe  one  community  is  known  to  exist,  speaking  a 
language  which  in  its  general  structure  manifests  a  near  likeness 
to  the  Indian  tongue.  Alone  of  all  the  races  of  the  old  continent 
the  Basques  or  Euskarians  of  northern  Spain  and  southwestern 
France  have  a  speech  of  that  highly  complex  and  polysynthetic 
character  which  distinguishes  the  American  languages. 

This  was  but  a  likeness,  but  it  led  Mr  Hale  to  say  of  western 
Europe :  "  The  derivation  of  the  American  population  from  this 
source  presents  no  serious  improbability  whatever."  He  after- 
ward showed  how  the  many  Indian  dialects  might  have  origi- 
nated about  the  Columbia  river. 

According  to  one  writer  12  letters  will  answer  for  all  Iroquois 
sounds,  though  this  requires  the  hardening  of  some.  In  this 
scheme  we  have  a,  e,  f,  h,  i,  k,  n,  o,  r,  s,  t,  w.  The  English  mis- 
sionaries used  16  for  the  Mohawk  tongue :  a,  d,  e,  g,  h,  i,  j,  k,  n,  o, 
r,  s,  t,  u,  w,  y.  L  is  much  used  by  the  Oneidas,  and  R  by  the 
Mohawks,  D  and  T,  G  and  K,  are  interchangeable.  Dual  and 
plural  numbers  have  proper  prefixes  in  most  cases.  Local  rela- 
tions are  shown  by  affixed  particles.  Adjectives  may  follow  sub- 
stantives, but  more  commonly  coalesce.  Pronouns  exceed  those 
in  European  languages,  and  verbs  have  three  modes.  The  fre- 
quent differences  in  personal  nouns  are  often  due  to  the  dropping 
of  a  pronoun  or  particle,  or  its  addition. 

Chapter  2 

Surrounding  nations.  Food,  houses,  forts  and  weapons.  Weaving  and 
dress.  Sepulture.  Wampum.  Stories  and  songs.  Etiquette.  Adoption. 
Orators  and  diplomats.     Intoning  and  pantomime. 

Brief  notices  may  here  be  given  of  some  other  nations  with 
whom  the  Iroquois  came  in  contact  at  various  times,  but  some 
are  sufficiently  noticed  elsewhere.  Thus  it  may  be  enough  to  say 
of  the  Hurons,  called  Quatoghies  and  Agaritkas  by  the  Iroquois, 
that  they  and  the  Petuns  were  the  Wyandots  of  later  days, 
Wendat  being  the  collective  name  given  in  1639. 

Algonquin  was  contracted  from  Algomequin,  a  people  living 
on  the  Ottawa  river  and  noted  in  their  day.  In  1736  but  20  of 
their  men  lived  at  Montreal,  and  a  French  writer  said :    "  This 


138  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

is  all  that  remains  of  a  nation  the  most  warlike,  most  polished 
and  the  most  attached  to  the  French."  Their  name  has  become 
the  generic  title  of  a  great  linguistic  family.  They  were  the 
Adirondacks  of  Colden. 

The  Montagnais,  or  Montagnards,  have  simply  a  French  name, 
referring  to  their  homes  in  the  mountains  below  Quebec. 

The  Abenaquiois,  or  Abenaki,  were  the  Kennebecs  or  Eastern 
Indians  of  the  English,  called  Owenagungas  by  the  Iroquois. 
The  Sokoquois,  or  Sokokis,  were  the  Saco  Indians  belonging  to 
the  Abenakis.  They  and  the  Mahicans  are  now  the  St  Francis 
Indians  of  Canada. 

The  Loups,  or  Wolves,  comprised  the  Schaghticoke  Indians, 
who  came  from  New  England  in  1672,  the  Mahicans,  who  for- 
merly owned  Albany,  and  those  sometimes  called  Mahikanders 
or  River  Indians.  The  Iroquois  called  these  Agotsagenens.  The 
Mohicans  of  New  England  were  their  kindred.  The  Wappingers 
were  Algonquins  of  the  lower  Hudson,  and  the  Montauks  were 
Algonquins  of  Long  Island.  The  Delawares,  or  Lenni-lenape, 
were  also  their  kindred  and  divided  into  three  families,  of  which 
the  Munseys  are  best  known.  Their  early  homes  were  on  the 
Delaware.  There  were  many  minor  divisions,  but  the  Minquas 
or  Mengwe  must  not  be  classed  with  these  as  Ruttenber  has  done. 

The  Ottawas  were  the  Utawawas  and  Dowaganhaes,  or  Far 
Indians,  embracing  several  nations.  Among  these  were  the 
Necariages  or  Ennikaragi.  The  Kiskakons  made  another,  north 
of  Lake  Huron. 

The  Illinois  were  on  the  Illinois  river,  and  were  known  as 
Chictaghicks  or  Kichtages  j  also  Geghtigeghroones.  Several  dis- 
tinct tribes  were  included  under  this  name.  East  of  them  the 
Miamis,  Oumiamis  or  Weas,  wnc  called  Twightwees  by  the 
[roquois.  The  migratory  Shawnees,  or  Shaounons,  were  also 
Satanas.     The  first  name  relates  t<»  their  southern  origin. 

The  Ojibwas,  or  Chippewas,  weir  railed  (  Istiagaghroones  by 
the  Iroquois.  The  Saulteurs  of  the  Sault  Ste  Marie  were  part 
of  these,  known  as  Estiaghicks.  The  Mississagas  belonged  to 
them,  but  came  east  from  Lake  Huron. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  139 

The  Maskoutins,  or  Assistaeronons,  were  the  Fire  Nation, 
more  properly  that  of  the  prairies,  and  were  also  called  Odislas- 
tagheks.  They  lived  in  Michigan,  and  iooo  Maskoutins  and 
Outagamis  were  reported  as  massacred  near  Detroit  in  1712. 
They  were  foes  of  the  Neutral  nation,  suffering  much  from  them. 
The  Nipissings,  or  Nipissiriniens,  had  this  Algonquin  name  from 
nippi,  water,  and  were  called  Squekaneronons  by  the  Iroquois, 
from  Lake  Skekouen.  The  Sacs  and  Foxes,  of  the  Algonquin 
family,  at  first  lived  north  of  Lake  Ontario,  but  went  west.  The 
Iroquois  called  the  latter  Quaksies. 

The  Catawbas  were  termed  Flatheads,  and  some  give  the  same 
name  to  the  Choctaws,  Cherokees  and  others.  The  Saponies 
and  Toteros  or  Tuteloes  were  branches  of  the  Catawbas,  who 
removed  to  New  York. 

The  Nanticokes  may  have  been  the  Tockwoghs  of  Virginia. 
They  were  called  Unechtgo,  Tawachguano,  and  by  the  Iroquois 
Skaniadarighroonas,  afterward  going  west.  Some  consider  the 
Conoys  a  part  of  these.  After  a  brief  residence  in  Pennsylvania 
both  lived  for  many  years  in  New  York,  on  the  Chenango  river. 

The  Cherokees  were  the  Ovadagaono.  called  also  T'kwentah- 
euhnane,  People  of  a  Beautiful  Red  Color. 

The  early  writers  classified  our  northern  aborigines  as  nomadic 
and  sedentary,  the  latter  having  towns  continuously  inhabited 
and  fields  steadily  cultivated.  These  remained  for  several  years 
in  a  place,  removing  when  fuel  and  fields  were  exhausted. 
Agriculture  was  rude,  and  the  staples  were  the  three  supporters 
of  life,  corn,  beans  and  squashes,  with  tobacco,  added  as  a  solace 
in  rest  or  an  aid  in  council.  Squashes  were  dried  for  winter  use, 
and  corn  and  beans  were  kept  in  chests  in  houses,  or  in  deep  pits 
in  the  ground.  The  Iroquois  found  fish  abundant  in  the  waters 
and  game  in  the  forest,  but  could  only  dry  or  smoke  these  for 
preservation,  not  knowing  the  use  of  salt.  Fruits  were  dried  and 
nuts  gathered,  the  latter  furnishing  an  agreeable  oil. 

When  known  to  the  whites,  the  Iroquois  had  almost  abandoned 
the  use  of  earthworks,  preferring  instead  their  strong  palisades. 
Their  houses  were  long,  narrow,  and  of  bark,  nor  did  they  adopt 


I40  NEW    YORK    STATE   MUSEUM 

the  log  house  for  more  than  a  century.  The  fires  were  placed 
at  intervals  in  the  long-  aisle,  with  couches  or  floors  on  either  side, 
these  huts  often  being  of  great  length  and  holding  many  families. 

Their  weapons  were  simple  at  first.  An  ungrooved  stone  ax, 
a  long  bow  and  arrows,  defensive  armor  including  a  shield  at 
times,  a  club  with  bone  or  stone  inserted  at  the  head,  a  knife  of 
stone  or  bone  and  afterward  of  steel,  furnished  all  that  was 
needed  in  war.  Nets  and  bone  harpoons  were  used  in  fishing, 
and  more  rarely  lines  with  bone  hooks.  Weirs  and  hurdles  were 
also  employed,  but  in  shallow  waters  spearing  was  the  favorite 
mode.  Arrows  were  tipped  with  bone,  horn,  or  stone,  and  the 
use  of  metal  changed  the  material  but  not  the  form.  Blowguns 
were  largely  used. 

Baskets  and  mats  were  woven  in  an  artistic  manner,  and  weav- 
ing embraced  other  simple  articles.  Thread  and  cords  were  made 
of  Indian  hemp  and  the  inner  bark  of  the  elm,  sinews  also  being 
used  for  many  things.  Baskets,  bark  vessels  and  carved  wooden 
bowls  were  found  in  every  house,  and  every  Iroquois  had  his 
capacious  and  often  handsome  wooden  spoon.  At  the  period  of 
European  contact  pottery  had  gone  beyond  simple  lining,  pinch- 
ing and  dotting,  and  many  clay  vessels  were  ornamented  with 
the  human  face  or  figure.  According  to  the  maker's  taste  or  skill, 
such  vessels  were  rude  or  elegant.  This  is  true  of  the  early  pipes, 
in  which  the  Iroquois  chiefly  used  fine  clay.  They  were  often 
simple  and  of  a  curved  trumpet  form,  but  as  frequently  the  bowl 
had  some  tasteful  figure,  facing  the  smoker.  Sometimes  the  pipe 
was  ornamented  throughout. 

The  true  Iroquois  canoe  was  of  elm  bark,  quite  clumsy  in  com- 
parison with  the  graceful  birch  bark  of  the  northern  Algonquins 
and  Hurons.  On  the  Mohawk  river  dugouts  were  sometimes 
used.  Snowshoes  aided  winter  travel,  and  the  back  frame  was  in 
favor  for  carrying  some  burdens.     The  sled  was  rarely  used. 

Dress  was  scanty  in  summer,  but  ample  in  winter,  and  had  the 
usual  ornaments  of  feathers,  beads  or  embroidery.  Perforated 
or  grooved  tenth  were  much  used,  and  the  introduction  of  bronze 
and  silver,  with  the  white  man's  blanket,  greatly  changed  primi- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  I4I 

tive  apparel.  The  neat  and  handsome  moccasin  long  survived 
and  beaded  work  is  still  used.  At  one  time  elaborate  bone  combs 
were  much  employed,  and  early  writers  mention  stockings  and 
mittens. 

In  the  household  the  large  wooden  pestle  and  mortar  are  still 
found,  being  preferred  in  mealing  corn,  for  very  good  reasons. 
Basket  sieves,  stirring  sticks  and  other  things  are  still  used,  but 
the  wooden  spoon  has  had  its  day. 

Two  early  games  were  those  of  lacrosse  and  the  dish  or  bowl, 
the  latter  now  called  the  peach-stone  game.  Both  these  are  wide- 
spread and  of  high  antiquity.  The  latter  is  for  great  occasions, 
but  has  a  modification  for  domestic  use,  which  may  be  quite  as 
old.  The  snow  snake  is  of  uncertain  age.  having  no  mention  in 
early  writings,  as  several  minor  games  have  not.  The  musical 
instruments  were  and  are  the  flute,  kettledrum  and  various  kinds 
of  rattles. 

Sepulture  was  rarely  on  the  surface,  the  body  being  usually 
bound  in  a  crouching  posture  and  placed  upright  in  a  pit,  but 
ways  of  burial  varied  greatly  and  sometimes  curiously.  Some 
memorial  often  marked  the  spot.  Pits  were  also  dug  to  hold 
grain,  and  many  open  ones  may  yet  be  seen.  They  are  some- 
times mistaken  for  graves.  Bone  pits  were  rare,  though  much 
used  by  the  Neutrals  and  Hurons. 

During  the  historic  period  wampum  came  into  use  in  many 
ways,  but  was  hardly  known  in  the  interior  before.  Wooden 
masks  have  an  age  of  over  two  centuries  and  are  still  made. 
Worship  has  varied  greatly,  and  consists  mainly  of  singing  and 
dancing.  The  great  Iroquois  feast  was  that  once  termed  a  turn- 
ing of  the  head,  when  dreams  were  related  and  the  wildest  follies 
committed.  This  at  last  became  the  white  dog  feast,  now  almost 
obsolete.  There  are  many  minor  feasts,  mostly  of  thanksgiving. 
Belonging  to  these  are  many  dances,  original  and  adopted,  of 
which  Morgan  has  given  a  long  list,  enumerating  32,  with 
descriptions  of  many. 

As  with  all  unlettered  nations,  the  story-teller  was  a  man  of 
importance,  giving  pleasure  in  many  an  idle  hour.     His  tales  of 


I-E2  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

travel  were  not  always  believed,  but  were  heard  with  wonder. 
Any  one  could  relate  his  own  deeds ;  he  kept  in  memory  those  of 
the  past.  Count  Zinzendorf  said  :  "  These  Indians  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  their  heroes  in  heroic  poems,  which  are  so  accurately 
handed  down  orally  that  it  is  impossible  for  any  one  to  boast 
of  feats  which  he  has  not  performed."  Above  all,  the  marvelous 
story-teller  dwelt  on  the  relations  of  man  to  the  lower  creation, 
originating  or  keeping  in  mind  those  pathetic  or  comic  tales 
wherein  men,  birds  and  beasts  meet  as  friends  or  foes;  often  as 
kindred.  David  Cusick  recorded  briefly  some  of  the  more  gro- 
tesque of  these,  telling  of  flying  heads,  stone  giants,  vampires, 
monstrous  beasts,  serpents  and  witches,  but  gave  only  a  hint  of 
the  Indian  tales  told  by  the  winter's  fire.  Welcome  was  the 
story-teller  everywhere,  nor  was  his  fee  of  tobacco  ever  grudged. 

There  was  a  higher  purpose  when  the  wampum  was  produced 
and  its  meaning  revealed.  That  told  of  history,  established  cere- 
monies, moral  laws.  Songs  were  to  be  learned  that  religious 
rites  might  be  duly  observed  ;  other  songs  preserving  the  names, 
deeds  and  virtues  of  their  ancestors,  exactly  learned  for  condoling 
the  dead  or  raising  new  chiefs ;  points  of  etiquette  to  be  observed, 
for  they  were  a  punctilious  people,  having  precise  rules  for  every 
public  act ;  how  to  speak  and  how  to  dance,  with  many  a  regu- 
lation for  private  life.  They  often  looked  on  their  white  friends 
as  unpolished  people,  pitying  them  for  their  lack  of  good  man- 
ners.    Sometimes  they  even  showed  them  the  better  way. 

The  Algonquins  were  less  sedentary  than  the  Iroquois,  and 
cultivated  the  soil  much  less.  Some  hsfve  made  the  Iroquois 
long  house  and  the  Algonquin  circular  hut  marks  of  distinction, 
but  these  arc  far  from  invariable.  The  Iroquois  have  been  con- 
sidered the  higher  intellectually  and  the  more  eloquent,  but  this 
was  partl\'  the  result  of  their  frequent  regular  or  special  councils 
as  a  great  power.  Indeed  they  adopted  captives  or  allies  so 
largely  that  but  few  of  pure  Iroquois  blood  may  have  lived  in 
historic  times.  The  training  alone  continued,  and  this  developed 
a  high  type  of  aboriginal  life.  They  wire  accustomed  to  plan, 
fight  and  rule.      In  later  days  their  vantage  ground  between  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  143 

French  and  English  made  them  able  diplomats,  and  they  used 
their  power  well. 

Their  eloquence  has  been  celebrated  and  has  not  lost  its  power 
yet.  Competent  persons  have  testified  that  it  lost  rather  than 
gained  by  interpretation.  Golden  says,  in  his  History  of  the 
Five  Nations: 

The  speakers  whom  1  have  heard  had  all  a  great  fluency  of 
words  and  much  more  grace  in  their  manner  than  any  man  could 
expect  among  a  people  entirely  ignorant  of  the  liberal  arts  and 
sciences.  .  .  1  have  heard  an  old  Indian  sachem  speak  with 
much  vivacity  and  elocution,  so  that  the  speaker  pleased  and 
moved  his  audience  with  the  manner  of  delivering  his  discourse, 
which,  however,  as  it  afterwards  came  from  the  interpreter,  dis- 
appointed us  in  our  expectations.  After  the  speaker  had  em- 
ployed a  considerable  time  in  haranguing  with  much  elocution, 
the  interpreter  often  explained  the  whole  by  one  single  sentence. 
I  believe  the  speaker,  in  that  time,  embellished  and  advanced  his 
figures,  that  they  might  have  their  full  force  on  their  imagination, 
while  the  interpreter  contented  himself  with  the  sense,  in  as  few 
words  as  it  could  be  expressed. 

Of  this  Mr  Parish,  the  interpreter,  once  said  it  was  altogether 
impossible  for  him  to  impart  to  the  translations  anything  like  the 
force  and  beauty  of  the  originals.  He  also  stated  that  on  great 
occasions,  the  Indian  orators.  Red  Jacket  and  Farmer's  Brother 
in  particular,  not  only  studied  their  speeches,  and  conned  them 
well,  but  would  send  to  him  for  rehearsals,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  assured  that  he  understood  them  fully,  and  could  trans- 
late them  with  accuracy. 

Examples  will  appear  incidentally,  but  a  quotation  may  be 
added  from  a  French  writer,  who  heard  Dekanissora  in  1694: 

These  are  the  words  of  Teganissorens,  which  he  enunciated 
with  as  perfect  a  grace  as  is  vouchsafed  to  an  unpolished  and 
uncivilized  people.  lie  went  through  his  speech  with  freedom 
and  collectedness,  and  concluded  with  a  certain  modesty  and  so 
great  a  show  of  respect  and  submission  to  the  Count  as  to  be 
remarked. 

Originally  [roquois  speeches  combined  plain  speech,  intoning 
and  pantomime.  An  account  of  Kiotsaeton's  address  and  pres- 
ents appears  in  the  Relation  of  1045.     "After  a  few  words  lie  began 


144  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

to  sing,  and  his  comrades  responded.  He  promenaded  in  that 
great  place  as  in  a  theater.  He  made  a  thousand  gestures,  he 
looked  at  the  sky,  he  faced  the  sun,  he  rubbed  his  hands."  The 
presents  Avere  made  and  explained  in  a  soberer  tone,  and  a  few 
concluding  words  followed.  "  His  manner  and  words  were  much 
praised.  He  intoned  some  songs  between  his  presents,  he  danced 
for  rejoicing;    in  short  he  showed  himself  a  very  good  actor." 

Intoning  was  often  used  to  show  that  a  message  or  meaning 
was  quoted.  When  Cammerhoff  and  Zeisberger  were  at  the 
Onondaga  council  in  1750,  a  chief  had  a  message  to  deliver  from 
the  Nanticokes :  "  To  our  astonishment  an  old  Oneida  began  to 
sing  the  message  which  he  had  for  the  council  in  a  very  high 
tenor  voice.  He  continued  for  more  than  half  an  hour."  The 
Moravians  explained  their  belt  and  string  to  Canassatego,  and 
he  spoke  for  them  in  the  council.  "  He  at  once  showed  them  the 
Fathom  of  Wampum  and  belt,  and  intoned  in  the  usual  Indian 
fashion  the  significance  of  each." 

Besides  pantomime  and  songs  there  were  early  customs  in 
speaking  which  have  ceased.  When  Le  Moyne  was  at  Onondaga 
in  1654,  he  said:  "  I  was  the  full  space  of  two  hours  making  all 
my  harangue  in  the  tone  of  a  captain,  promenading  after  their 
custom,  like  an  actor  on  a  stage." 

Chapter  3 

Clans  and  their  divisions.  T< acinic  bond.  Line  of  descent.  Migrations. 
Date  of  League.  Cartier's  visit.  .Mohawks  leave  Canada.  Traces  of 
them  there.  Iroquois  war.  Algonqnins  at  Montreal.  First  Mohawk 
towns  in  New  York.     Age  of  Huron  nations. 

The  three  great  and  probably  original  clans  found  in  each 
Iroquois  nation  arc  the  Bear,  Wolf  and  Turtle,  and  without  those 
no  council  was  valid.  The  Mohawks  and  (  )neidas  had  only 
these,  but  the  others  had  supplementary  elans,  varying  in  names 
and  number.  L.  II.  Morgan  gave  five  of  these  to  the  Senecas: 
the  Beaver,  Deer,  Snipe,  Heron  and  I  lawk.  To  the  Cayugas  he 
assigned  the  Snipe,  Eel,  Beaver,  Deer  and  Hawk,  but  the  Onon- 
dagas  say  that   all    Eels  he-long  to  them.     To  the  Qnondagas  he 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  145 

gave  the  Snipe,  Beaver,  Ball,  Deer  and  Eel,  leaving  out  the  Hawk 
clan.  Both  he  and  Horatio  Hale  mention  the  Ball  clan,  which  is 
really  a  subdivision  of  the  Turtle,  commonly  known  as  the  Small 
Turtle.  To  the  Tuscaroras  he  gave  in  full  the  Bear,  Great  and 
Little  Turtle,  Gray  and  Yellow  Wolf,  Eel,  Beaver  and  Snipe. 
There  are  Onondaga  Eels  on  that  reservation,  which  may  account 
for  a  supposed  Tuscarora  clan.  He  allowed  them  no  Hawk  clan, 
and  assigned  the  Heron  only  to  the  Senecas.  J.  V.  H.  Clark's 
Onondaga  enumeration  is  the  Bear,  Wolf,  Turtle,  Eel,  Deer, 
Beaver,  Eagle  and  Heron,  substituting  the  latter  for  the  Snipe, 
which  is  an  Onondaga  clan,  and  the  Eagle  for  the  Hawk,  which 
seems  proper.     The  writer  belongs  to  the  Eel  clan. 

In  1666  there  was  a  different  enumeration  and  naming  by  a 
French  writer.  Nine  Iroquois  clans  were  named  in  two  divisions, 
the  first  being  called  Guey-niotiteshesgue,  meaning  four  tribes. 
These  were  the  Turtle,  or  Atiniathin  :  the  Wolf,  called  Enan- 
thayonni  or  Cahenhisenhonon  ;  the  Bear,  or  Atinionguin  ;  and  the 
Beaver.  The  second  division  was  Ouiche-niotiteshesgue,  or  five 
tribes.  Of  these  the  Deer  was  Canendeshe  ;  the  Potato,  Schones- 
chioronon ;  the  Great  Plover,  Otinanchahe ;  the  Little  Plover, 
Asco  or  Nicohes;  and  the  Eagle,  Canonchahonronon.  A  French- 
man, adopted  as  a  Seneca,  gave  another  account  in  1736,  naming 
10  clans,  but  omitting  the  Wolf  and  Heron.  They  were  the 
Bear,  Turtle,  Plover,  Eel,  Deer,  Beaver,  Potato,  Falcon,  Lark 
and  Partridge.     Variations  are  frequent. 

The  Onondaga  clans  are  now  the  Turtle,  or  Ho-te-neah-te ; 
Wolf,  or  Ho-te-kwa-ho ;  Bear,  or  Ho-te-ska-wak  ;  Beaver,  or  Ho- 
te-hu-ne-wha-keh-ha-no,  People  of  the  Creek  ;  Snipe,  or  Ho-te-ne- 
see-yuh,  People  of  the  Sand;  Eel,  or  Ho-te-teu-ha-kah,  People 
of  the  Rushes ;  Deer,  or  Da-hah-de-ge-nine,  People  of  Hoofs ; 
and  Hawk,  or  Ho-te-swe-gi-yu.  They  are  the  Boards,  alluding 
to  the  large  sticks  in  hawks'  or  eagles'  nests. 

No  one  marries  in  his  own  clan,  and  not  long  since  there  were 
clan  burials.  When  traveling,  they  are  supposed  to  be  enter- 
tained by  those  of  their  own  clan.  How  rive  of  the  clans  fared 
in  visiting  the  Oneidas  and  Mohawks  has  not  been  explained. 


I46  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

In  old  times  the  totems  appeared  on  every  house,  but  the 
Mohawks  at  first  had  a  village  for  each  clan.  This  soon  ceased. 
When  a  clan  seemed  dying  out,  it  might  be  replenished  from 
others.  At  one  time  the  Mohawks  preserved  the  Oneida  nation 
in  this  way,  supplying  husbands  for  the  women. 

The  principal  chiefs  were  unequally  distributed  among  the 
clans,  and  some  had  none  at  all.  This  has  been  thought  proof 
that  these  originated  after  the  formation  of  the  league.  In  later 
days  there  have  been  changes,  and  offices  are  not  now  always  in 
the  clans  to  which  they  first  belonged. 

David  Cusick,  a  native  Tuscarora,  said  that  "  each  nation  con- 
tains sets  of  generations  or  tribes,  viz :  Otter,  Bear,  Wolf,  Beaver, 
Turtle.  Each  tribe  has  two  chiefs  to  settle  disputes."  School- 
craft found  Eels  resident  among  the  Tuscaroras,  but,  in  the  face 
of  all  history,  said  it  was  not  an  Iroquois  clan  totem.  Charlevoix 
spoke  of  the  division  of  the  Iroquois  Turtle  clan  nearly  two  cen- 
turies ago:  "The  family  of  the  Tortoise  is  split  into  two  branches, 
called  the  Great  and  Little  Tortoise.  The  chief  of  each  family 
bears  its  name,  and  in  all  public  deeds  he  is  called  by  no  other." 
The  latter  branch  is  the  Ball  clan  of  some  writers,  a  name  derived 
from  a  Hiawatha  legend. 

Those  who  have  treated  of  the  Iroquois  system  as  a  carefully 
arranged  and  artificial  plan,  rather  than  a  natural  growth,  have 
had  much  to  say  on  the  wisdom  of  the  totemic  bond,  supposing 
that  its  great  advantages  had  been  foreseen.  All  members  of  a 
clan  were  considered  near  relatives;  the  three  principal  clans 
belonged  to  all  the  nations,  and  their  supposed  family  relationship 
and  actual  friendship  seemed  to  bind  all  together.  The  rule 
against  marrying  in  the  same  clan  made  another  link.  There 
was  no  household  which  did  not  belong  to  two  or  more  elans. 
If  a  man  might  not  have  a  place  in  the  Grand  Council  by  reason 
of  his  elan,  his  son  possibly  might,  for  father  and  child  were 
never  of  the  same.  The  children  followed  the  mother's  side  in 
nation  and  tribe,  thus  enhancing  her  dignity.  In  many  such 
ways  the  elan  Strengthened  the  league.  A  wise  plan  would  have 
required  each  one  of  these  everywhere,  but  they  came  in  a  simple 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  147 

and  natural  way.  Mr  Hale  took  the  same  view,  considering  that 
the  three  Avestern  nations  adopted  more  captives  or  allies  than 
the  Oneidas  and  Mohawks,  and  thus  had  more  clans. 

The  examination  of  early  New  York  sites  has  thrown  much 
light  on  the  time  and  manner  of  the  Iroquois  advent  in  New 
York,  heretofore  based  on  doubtful  grounds,  though  historic  proof 
seemed  ample.  No  precise  date  can  be  given  to  the  coming  of 
the  Cayugas  and  Senecas,  but  no  great  age  can  be  allowed  either 
of  these.  The  case  of  the  Onondagas  is  much  clearer.  The 
former  seem  to  have  come  directly  from  the  west,  and  the  latter 
from  the  north,  tarrying  for  awhile  at  the  east  end  of  Lake 
Ontario.  Early  in  the  16th  century  they  had  some  settlements 
in  the  north  part  of  Onondaga  county  and  south  part  of  Oswego, 
but  did  not  reach  the  hills  whence  they  had  their  name  till  late 
in  that  century.  Before  its  close  they  may  have  had  one  or  two 
towns  there.  One  occupied  about  1600,  or  a  little  later,  is  closely 
connected  by  its  relics  with  those  having  European  articles. 

Possibly  one  early  Oneida  fort  may  be  dated  before  1580,  but 
the  one  which  had  the  earliest  of  those  Oneida  stones  which 
gave  name  to  the  nation  must  have  been  later,  and  to  this  suc- 
ceeded the  fort  attacked  by  Champlain  in  161 5,  also  having  its 
great  boulder.  The  Oneidas  remained  among  the  higher  hills 
till  some  time  in  the  18th  century,  when  they  sought  the  lower 
land.  Their  earlier  homes  seem  to  have  been  on  either  side  of 
the  St  Lawrence,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Oswegatchie  river.  From 
these  two  nations  we  might  find  an  approximate  date  for  the 
league,  but  Mohawk  history,  traditions  and  remains  furnish  much 
plainer  evidence. 

Indian  tradition  is  no  sure  guide,  for,  even  when  striking  events 
are  kept  in  mind,  dates  are  almost  certain  to  be  confused.  So 
those  who  depend  on  popular  tales  vary  over  a  century  in  the 
date  of  the  league.  Mr  Hale  disregarded  David  Cusick's  esti- 
mates of  time,  but  followed  his  scheme  of  settlement  and  division 
of  dialects,  concluding  that  Mr  Morgan  was  right  in  dating  the 
league  about  1459.  These  eminent  writers  knew  little  prac- 
tically of  early  Iroquois  towns,  and  these  silent  witnesses  did  not 


I4<^  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

affect  their  conclusions.  Nor  did  plain  history.  Little  was  said 
of  what  Champlain,  Charlevoix.  Perrot,  the  Jesuits  and  others 
wrote,  nor  were  Albert  Gallatin's  sober  conclusions  mentioned. 
Tradition  and  the  varying  accounts  of  Indian  chiefs  were  trusted 
by  both.  Some  Indians  mentioned  by  Hale  now  deduct  a  cen- 
tury and  a  half,  carrying  the  date  of  the  league  to  near  1600. 
From  similar  Oneida  statements,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland  made 
this  1608.  Hecke welder  quoted  from  a  manuscript  volume  of 
Pyrlaeus,  the  Moravian  missionary,  an  account  of  the  formation 
of  the  league  which  he  had  from  a  Mohawk  chief:  "  The  alliance 
or  confederacy  of  the  Five  Nations  was  established,  as  near  as 
can  be  conjectured,  one  age  (or  the  length  of  a  man's  life)  before 
the  white  people  (the  Dutch)  came  into  the  country."  The 
words  in  parentheses  are  Heckewelder's,  and  the  question  may 
well  be  raised  whether  he  was  right.  Shakspere  gives  seven  ages 
to  one  man's  life.  Did  the  age  of  Pyrlaeus  mean  one  man's  life, 
or  the  generation  of  about  30  years?  \\  hat  coming  of  the  whites 
was  meant?  Was  it  that  of  Hudson,  whom  they  may  not  have 
seen?  or  that  of  Champlain.  whom  they  had  reason  to  remember? 
or  that  of  the  Dutch,  to  trade  or  settle'  The  initial  date  is 
slightly  confused.  Some  have  assumed  this  as  1609,  deducted 
70  years  for  a  man's  life,  and  dated  the  confederacy  in  1539,  which 
is  much  too  early.  If  a  generation  of  30  years  be  allowed,  we 
would  have  [579,  which  approximates  the  true  date  of  the 
Mohawk   exodus. 

But  if  we  are  to  quote  Pyrlaeus  at  all.  let  us  hear  more,  a  thing 
seldom  done.  After  noting  the  rank  of  the  Mohawks  and  Onei- 
das,  he  proceeds  to  say  :  "  The  Senecas,  who  were  the  last  who 
at  that  time  had  consented  to  the  alliance,  were  called  the  young- 
est son;  but  the  Tuscaroras,  who  joined  the  confederacy  prob- 
ably a  hundred  years  afterwards,  assumed  that  name,  and  the 
Senecas  ranked  before  them,  as  being  the  next  youngest  son,  or 
as  we  would  say.  the  youngest  son  but  one."  Mow  the  Tusca- 
roras were  admitted  about  1714,  making  the  Seneca  alliance  about 
1014  and  harmonizing  with  Champlain's  distinction  of  the  Sen- 
ecas from  the  Iroquois.  Their  union  seems  earlier  than  the  date 
which  Pyrlaeus  hen-  gi\  es. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    NEW    YORK    [ROQUOIS  149 

All  traditions  of  the  original  league  say  that  the  Senecas  were 
the  last  to  join,  and  their  own  date  may  be  cited  from  Schoolcraft  : 
"  There  is  a  tradition  among  portions  of  the  Senecas,  that  the 
present  confederation  took  place  four  years  before  Hudson  sailed 
up  the  river  bearing  his  name.  This  giYes  A.  D.  1605."  Then 
Schoolcraft  learned  that  Ephraim  Webster  was  told  by  the  Onon- 
dagas  that  the  true  date  was  "  about  the  length  of  one  man's  life 
before  the  white  men  appeared."  What  white  men  this  inland 
nation  meant  may  be  a  question.  On  the  date  J.  V.  H.  Clark 
cited  the  same  person  :  "  Webster,  the  Onondaga  interpreter,  and 
good  authority,  states  it  at  about  two  generations  before  the 
white  people  came  to  trade  with  the  Indians." 

In  1875  some  Onondaga  chiefs  told  Mr  Hale  that  "  it  was  their 
belief  that  the  confederacy  was  formed  about  six  generations 
before  the  white  people  came  to  these  parts."  He  allowed  25 
years  to  a  generation  or  150  years  for  all.  Deduct  these  from 
1609  an(l  there  remains  Morgan's  date  of  1459.  The  same  Onon- 
clagas  afterward  testified  in  court  that  the  date  was  about  1600. 
It  is  evident  that  such  statements  are  not  reliable.  What  does 
history,  what  does  the  Iroquois  country  itself  say  ? 

I11  T  535  Jacques  Cartier  ascended  the  St  Lawrence  to  Quebec 
and  Montreal,  finding  Iroquois  spoken  more  or  less  all  the  way, 
and  preserving  many  words  and  names.  At  Montreal  he  visited 
and  described  the  Iroquois  town  of  Hochelaga.  They  long- 
remembered  that  visit  and  seem  to  have  mentioned  it  in  a  council 
at  Albany,  June  2,  1691,  though  they  may  have  referred  to 
Captain  Jacobs,  who  reached  Albany  in  1623,  or  perhaps  con- 
fused both  with  Hudson's  coming. 

We  have  been  informed  by  our  Forefathers  that  in  former 
times  a  Ship  arrived  here  in  this  Country  which  was  matter  of 
great  admiration  to  us,  especially  our  desire  was  to  know  what 
was  within  her  Belly.  In  that  Ship  were  Christians,  amongst 
the  rest  one  Jaques  with  whom  we  made  a  Covenant  of  friend- 
ship, which  covenant  hath  since  been  tied  together  with  a  chaine 
and  always  ever  since  kept  inviolable  by  the  Brethren  and  us. 

A  probable  reference  to  Carrier's  visit  by  the  Mohawks  is  found 
on  the  map  of  1616,  and  is  thus  translated  :  "  Hut  as  far  as  one  can 


I50  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

understand  from  what  the  M aquas  say  and  show,  the  French 
came  with  sloops  as  high  up  as  to  their  country  to  trade  with 
them."  As  this  note  is  placed  near  the  site  of  Albany  on  the 
map,  it  has  been  understood  to  refer  to  the  Hudson  river  instead 
of  the  St  Lawrence,  though  the  latter  was  Iroquois  territory 
and  the  former  was  not.  Though  there  were  Iroquois  all  along 
the  St  Lawrence  when  Cartier  ascended  it,  Champlain  found 
only  Algonquins  when  he  went  up  that  great  stream  in  1603. 
Where  had  the  ancient  inhabitants  gone? 

The  story  has  been  told  by  De  la  Potherie,  Charlevoix,  Colden 
and  others,  and  has  much  to  confirm  it  incidentally.  Charlevoix 
said  it  wras  the  most  credible  story  of  the  origin  of  the  Iroquois 
wrar  that  he  could  find,  and  thought  this  was  of  somewhat  recent 
date  when  Champlain  came.  The  Iroquois  and  Adirondack's 
lived  peaceably  together  on  the  river;  the  former  cultivating 
their  fields  as  Cartier  describes,  and  the  latter  employing  their 
time  in  hunting,  each  supplying  the  needs  of  the  other.  On  one 
occasion,  when  the  Iroquois  wished  to  try  hunting,  the  Algon- 
quins consented,  willing  to  show  their  superior  skill.  Six  of 
each  went  along,  but  the  Algonquins  left  the  Iroquois  in  the 
camp,  taking  the  hunt  to  themselves  but  taking  nothing  else. 
Three  days  passed  and  they  killed  nothing.  Then  the  Iroquois 
went  out  secretly  with  great  success.  Night  came  on,  and  their 
jealous  companions  killed  them  all  while  asleep.  When  this  was 
at  last  discovered,  they  scornfully  refused  redress  to  their  injured 
friends.  Powerless  to  do  anything  then,  the  Iroquois  "  bound 
themselves  by  oath  to  perish  to  a  man,  or  to  have  their  revenge." 
They  left  their  country,  learned  war  prudently  and  successfully, 
and  in  due  time,  said  Charlevoix,  "  they  poured  all  at  once  upon 
the  Algonquins,  and  commenced  that  war  of  which  we  saw  only 
the  conclusion,  and  which  set  all  Canada  on  fire.  .  .  Those 
who  suffered  mosl  were  the  Ilurons,  who  engaged  in  this  war  as 
allies,  auxiliaries,  or  neighbors  to  the  Algonquins,  or  because  they 
lay  in  the  way  of  both." 

Coldeil    said    they    went    to    New    York,    easily    drove    off    the 
Satanas,    or    Shawnees,    practised    stratagems    because    of    their 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  1 51 

weakness,  and  then  turned  their  arms  against  the  Adirondacks 
or  Algonquins  with  success.  Charlevoix  adds  that,  while  the 
Algonquins  took  no  precautions  against  surprise,  "  the  Iroquois 
alone  use  more  circumspection  in  war,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that 
it  is  one  of  the  principal  causes  of  the  superiority  which  they  have 
acquired  over  the  enemies  who  have  never  yielded  to  them  in 
valor,  and  might  easily  have  crushed  them  by  numbers."  That 
this  war  was  recent  when  Champlain  came  is  evident.  Though 
this  had  caused  them  to  abandon  the  islands  of  Lake  Champlain, 
the  Indians  with  the  great  explorer  in  1609  told  him  that  the  Ver- 
mont shore  belonged  to  the  Iroquois,  and  that  there  were  beau- 
tiful valleys  and  fertile  cornfields  there.  Even  in  1636  a  mission- 
ary on  the  St  Lawrence  said :  "  The  savages  have  shown  me  some 
places  where  the  Iroquois  formerly  cultivated  the  land."  He 
advised  them  to  use  these,  so  that  they  could  not  have  greatly 
changed. 

There  is  a  reference  to  the  beginning  of  this  war  in  Champlain's 
account  of  the  proposed  peace  between  the  Iroquois  and  Algon- 
quins in  1622.  The  Indians  said  "  they  were  tired  and  weary  of 
wars  which  they  had  had  for  more  than  fifty  years;  and  that 
their  fathers  had  never  wished  to  enter  into  treaty,  on  account  of 
the  desire  for  vengeance  which  they  wished  to  obtain  for  the 
murder  of  their  friends,  who  had  been  killed;  but,  having  con- 
sidered the  good  which  might  result,  they  resolved,  as  has  been 
said  to  make  peace." 

This  would  place  the  beginning  of  the  Iroquois  war  about  1570. 
In  the  Relation  of  1660  there  is  a  sketch  of  the  varying  fortunes 
of  the  Mohawks  since  1600  and  before.  "  Toward  the  end  of  the 
last  century  the  Agnieronnons  had  been  brought  so  low.  by  the 
Algonquins  that  there  appeared  almost  no  more  of  them  upon 
the  earth.  In  a  few  years  they  overcame  their  foes  and  reduced 
them  to  the  same  state.  Then  the  Andastes  harassed  them,  and 
they  were  in  great  fear.  The  Dutch  came  and  gave  them  guns; 
they  were  again  victors  and  never  lost  their  advantage.  All  that 
the  French  could  learn  of  their  military  history  went  not  far 
back  in  the  16th  century." 


152  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

The  early  writers  treat  their  recent  residence  on  the  St  Law- 
rence as  a  well  known  fact,  but  some  mention  Algonquins  who 
were  present  at  the  founding-  of  Montreal  in  1642.  One  said  his 
grandfather  lived  there,  and  added  :  "  The  Hurons,  who  were  then 
our  enemies,  chased  our  ancestors  from  this  country ;  some 
retired  toward  the  land  of  the  Abnaquiois,  the  others  to  the  land 
of  the  Iroquois,  and  one  part  turned  to  the  Hurons  themselves, 
uniting  with  them,  and  behold  the  land  was  made  almost  a 
desert."  This  either  combines  the  expulsion  of  the  Iroquois 
with  that  of  the  Algonquins,  or  makes  it  precede  this,  and  agrees 
with  the  Huron  account  that  they  received  another  nation  about 
1590,  making  due  allowance  for  Indian  dates.  Indeed  those 
Algonquins  who  went  to  the  Iroquois  may  have  inflamed  them 
against  the  great  body  of  the  Hurons,  and  thus  led  to  war. 

These  early  references  to  the  exodus  of  the  Mohawks  from 
Canada  have  recently  had  the  aid  of  archeology,  and  one  ques- 
tion now  is,  what  evidences  of  early  Iroquois  occupation  does 
the  lower  Mohawk  valley  present?  There  are  camps  and  graves, 
and  some  insignificant  hamlets  belonging  to  prehistoric  times 
and  of  brief  occupancy.  But  three  prehistoric  forts  are  known,  in 
two  of  which  one  or  two  ornaments  of  European  make  have  been 
found.  Both  of  these  forts  are  north  of  the  river,  and  both  are 
distinctly  related  to  the  succeeding  historic  towns.  The  third  is 
a  few  miles  south  of  the  Mohawk,  and  was  at  first  said  to  yield 
European  articles,  but  later  explorers  have  found  none.  Its 
relics  have  not  such  distinct  relations  to  succeeding  town  sites, 
but  its  [roquois  character  is  clear.  These  are  all  the  town  sites 
known  to  belong  to  the  New  York  Mohawks  of  precolonial  times. 
It  is  possible  one  or  two  more  may  be  found. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  Mohawks  once  had  three  tribal 
towns,  one  For  each  of  their  three  clans,  differing  in  this  from 
the  other  [roquois,  but  this  feature  did  not  last  long.  It  is  also 
well  known  that  early  Iroquois  towns  changed  their  sites  every 
10  or  [5  years  on  an  average.  Making  the  removal  of  these  three 
OCCUr  in  1000,  and  allowing  them  a  period  o\  20  years,  their  sct- 
tlemenl   would  have  been  about    1580.      Another  20  years  or  less 


Jl  I ST0R V    OF    T II E    N  E VV    YOR K    1  R(  )(J UOIS  1 53 

would  have  brought  succeeding  towns  well  into  the  Dutch  period, 
and  would  account  for  the  abundant  European  ornaments.  The 
earlier  ones  may  have  come  from  the  French  in  Canada.  Their 
vessels  haunted  the  lower  St  Lawrence,  trading  with  the  natives, 
who  carried  their  wares  far  inland.     There  is  full  proof  of  this. 

Some  time  should  be  allowed  for  the  Mohawks'  exodus ;  but 
from  Champlain's  account  their  war  with  the  remaining  Canadian 
Indians  should  be  dated  about  1570,  and  the  Algonquin  expulsion 
from  Montreal  varied  little.  The  grandsire  of  one  of  the  Algon- 
quins  of  1642  had  lived  there,  and  70  years  is  ample  time  to  allow 
for  this.  The  dates  may  then  be  i$(k)  for  the  withdrawal  of  the 
Mohawks,  a  little  later  for  the  occupancy  of  their  valley,  and 
some  interval  may  have  elapsed  before  forming  the  league.  It  is 
customary  to  date  the  statement  of  Pyrlaeus  from  Hudson's 
voyage,  but  that  explorer  probably  saw  no  Mohawks  and  it 
seems  more  reasonable  to  count  from  active  trade  with  the 
Dutch,  or  the  founding  of  Fort  Orange.  The  true  date  of  the 
confederacy  seems  to  lie  between  the  years   1570  and   1600. 

One  more  statement  may  help  us.  Bearing  in  mind  the  num- 
bers of  the.  Iroquois  and  their  frequent  removals,  any  experienced 
person  can  see  that  their  coining  into  New  York  can  not  be  placed 
very  far  back,  for  the  number  and  character  of  the  sites  will  not 
allow  this.  A  brief  period  covers  the  longest  occupation  of  any 
early  site,  but  some  forts  were  inhabited  but  a  few  weeks.  A 
good  observer  can  sometimes  closely  determine  the  time.  His- 
tory aids  us  a  little  here.  The  Iroquois  and  Hurons  were  closely 
related,  the  Mohawks  being  a  recent  offshoot  of  the  latter.  In 
the  Relation  of  1639  it  is  said  of  the  Hurons: 

The  general  or  common  name  of  these  nations,  according  to 
the  language  of  the  country,  is  Ouendat ;  the  individual  names 
are  Attignaouantan,  Attigneenongnahac,  Arendahronons,  and 
Tohontaenrat.  The  first  two  are  the  two  most  considerable,  as 
having  received  and  adopted  the  others  into  their  country.  The 
one  within  fifty  years  in  this,  and  the  other  within  thirty.  The 
first  two  speak  with  assurance  of  the  dwelling  of  their  ancestors, 
and  of  the  different  situations  of  their  villages  for  more  than  two 
hundred  years,  for,  as  it  may  be  observed  in  preceding  Relations, 
they  are  obliged  to  change  their  place  at  least  every  ten  years. 


154  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Here  it  appears  that  two  of  the  Huron  nations  came  into  their 
land  rather  early  in  the  15th  century,  according  to  themselves, 
but  probably  later;  that  they  received  another  nation  about  1590, 
or  after  the  Mohawk  exodus;  and  that  the  fourth  nation  joined 
them  about  1610. 

Chapter  4 

Origin  of  league.  Probable  date.  Allotment  of  sachems.  Hiawatha. 
Names  of  sachems  and  their  meaning.  Other  chiefs.  Name  and  terri- 
tory of  each  nation.  Council  names.  Brotherhoods.  Name  of  league. 
Iroquois  and  Algonquin  name.  Place  of  formative  council.  Influence 
of  women. 

Of  the  formation  of  the  Iroquois  league  Pyrlaeus  received  an 
account  in  1743,  which  differs  only  in  brevity  from  all  later  ones. 
It  was  proposed  by  Thannawage,  an  aged  Mohawk,  and  Togana- 
wita  appeared  for  the  Mohawks,  Otatschechta  for  the  Oneidas, 
Tatoyarho  for  the  Onondagas,  Togarhayon  for  the  Cayugas,  and 
Ganiatario  and  Satagarnyes  for  the  Senecas.  These  names  are 
in  the  Mohawk  dialect  and  were  to  be  preserved  by  successive 
chiefs.  This  has  been  done  with  the  exception  of  the  first,  who 
has  no  nominal  successor.  He  considered  himself  the  founder 
of  the  league,  and  no  one  could  follow  him  in  this.  In  the  con- 
doling song  his  name  appears  with  the  five  other  founders,  but 
is  not  in  the  list  of  the  50  principal  chiefs. 

Mr  Hale  said,  adhering  to  an  early  date,  "  If  the  League  was 
formed,  as  seems  probable,  about  the  year  1450,  the  speeches  and 
hymn,  in  their  present  form,  may  reasonably  be  referred  to  the 
early  part  of  the  next  century."  The  song  treats  all  the  50  orig- 
inal chiefs  as  dead,  and  laments  the  good  old  times. 

There  is  no  real  discrepancy  in  referring  the  suggestion  of  the 
league  to  a  Mohawk  chief.  Hi-a-wat-ha  was  an  (  mondaga, 
afterward  adopted  by  the  Mohawks,  and  his  name,  variously 
translated,  is  second  in  the  list  of  their  0  principal  chiefs,  entitled 
to  sit  in  the  Grand  Council.  The  Oneidas  had  9  of  these,  the 
Onondagas  14,  the  Cayugas  10,  and  the  Senecas  8,  or  50  in  all. 
When  one  of  these  dies,  another  is  raised  in  his  place  and  takes 
his  name.  The  Senecas  ma)  always  have  formed  two  bands, 
accounting  for  two  leading  chiefs.      In   the  Grand  Council  they 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  155 

have  the  fewest  of  all,  the  attendance  at  first  being  determined  by 
distance  and  interest,  and  the  Senecas  being  the  last  to  favor  the 
league.  In  representation  this  made  no  difference,  each  nation 
having  but  one  vote,  and  its  chiefs  agreeing  what  that  should  be. 
Though  there  were  these  principal  chiefs  succeeding  to  the  old 
titles,  it  is  historically  true  that  there  were  often  more,  increasing 
or  diminishing  as  might  be  expedient.  There  are  many  cases 
where  more  than  the  regular  number  are  mentioned,  and  prin- 
cipal chiefs  were  deposed  or  restored  when  desired.  War  chiefs 
were  often  leaders  in  war  and  assistants  to  the  principal  chiefs 
in  peace,  as  they  are  now.  There  are  impressive  ceremonies  for 
the  raising  of  each,  and  they  are  usually  nominated  by  the  women, 
who  have  great  power,  but  do  not  speak  in  council.  Another 
class  is  of  the  pinetree  chiefs,  having  their  roots  in  the  sky  and 
their  power  from  their  goodness,  but  rules  varied  much. 

The  Hi-a-wat-ha  legends  are  many  and  different.  He  was  the 
reputed  founder  of  the  league  in  the  way  of  suggestion  and  work, 
and  the  inventor  of  wampum  with  some,  this  being  new  to  the 
Iroquois  at  the  beginning  of  the  17th  century.  In  most  tales  he 
travels  through  the  nations,  explaining  his  views  and  giving  the 
national  and  council  names  by  which  they  have  since  been  known. 
Though  slightly  known  before,  Mr  J.  V.  H.  Clark  first  gave  witle 
circulation  to  the  story  in  its  most  fanciful  and  popular  form,  too 
well  known  to  require  repetition  in  detail.  He  had  this  from 
Onondaga  chiefs.  Ta-oun-ya-wat-ha  comes  to  earth  and  delivers 
it  from  many  evils,  becomes  a  man  indeed  as  Hiawatha,  con- 
venes a  council,  forms  the  league,  and  ascends  to  heaven  again 
in  his  white  canoe.  Mr  Clark  said  that  Hiawatha's  often  quoted 
speech  was  a  pure  invention  of  his  own.  In  all  these  tales  the 
council  ground  is  at  Onondaga  lake,  though  the  Onondagas  then 
lived  a  score  of  miles  away.  Schoolcraft  had  the  story  from 
Clark,  and  at  last  it  took  a  western  form. 

The  earliest  of  these  tales  was  published  by  William  Dunlap 
in  1839,  in  his  History  of  the  Nezv  Netherlands.  He  had  it  from 
the  Onondaga  interpreter,  Ephraim  Webster,  and,  not  remem- 
bering the  chief's  name,  he  called  him  Oweneko.     He  was  an 


I56  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

unselfish  man,  while  the  principal  Onondaga  chief  was  ambitious. 
By  proposing  to  make  him  head  of  all,  he  at  last  secured  his  aid 
and  the  league  was  formed.  It  is  curious  that  David  Cusick 
said  nothing  of  Hiawatha,  while  he  described  fully  the  appearance 
of  Atotarho,  nor  does  the  latter  come  into  Clark's  tale  of 
Hiawatha. 

Of  the  plainer  and  more  reasonable  accounts  the  best  is  that 
of  Horatio  Hale,  who  grew  eloquent  over  the  story  of  this  Indian 
sage.  That  his  enthusiasm  carried  him  too  far,  few  will  ques- 
tion, but  no  one  will  deny  that  he  had  a  good  subject  for  this. 
Hiawatha  came  of  a  race  which  was  a  match  for  European  diplo- 
macy and  which  produced  many  high-minded,  heroic  and  chival- 
rous men. 

Briefly  the  story  runs  like  this.  Hiawatha,  He  who  seeks  his 
Lost  Mind  which  he  knows  where  to  find,  (the  Onondaga  inter- 
pretation) was  an  Onondaga  who  wished  the  kindred  nations  of 
New  York  to  abolish  war  among  themselves.  The  Onondaga 
chief,  Tadodaho,  opposed  this,  being  a  grim  and  ferocious  war- 
rior, jealous  of  his  own  power.  At  a  national  council  he  defeated 
the  project.  A  second  followed  with  the  same  result,  and  at  the 
third  one  Hiawatha  was  alone.  Then  he  went  to  the  Mohawks 
with  many  adventures  on  the  way.  In  his  camp,  near  the 
Mohawk  town,  some  young  men  found  him  stringing  a  kind  of 
wampum,  made  of  quills,  the  use  of  which  he  explained.  Then 
he  and  the  great  chief  Dekanawidah  met.  The  Mohawk  chief 
approved  the  plan  of  union,  and  the  Mohawks  ratified  it  in  coun- 
cil. The  Oneida  chief,  Otatshehteh,  was  consulted,  but  deferred 
the  question  for  a  time.  On  his  approval  another  council  was 
held  at  Onondaga  with  the  old  result.  Then  the  Cayugas  were 
approached  and  gave  a  quick  consent.  Another  council  met  at 
Onondaga  and  a  new  proposal  was  made.  Tadodaho  was  to  be 
the  head  of  the  confederacy,  and  the  Onondagas  were  to  keep 
the  great  council  fire.  This  made  both  desirous  to  extend  the 
league.  The  Senecas  were  consulted,  and  the  office  of  military 
commanders  was  offered  to  two  of  their  great  chiefs,  Ganyadariyo 
and  Shadekaronyes.  Oil  their  acceptance  the  final  steps  were 
taken  at  Onondaga  lake. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  157 

David  Cusick,  however,  said :  "  The  Bear  tribes  nominate  the 
Chief  Warrior  of  the  nation.  The  laws  of  the  confederation  pro- 
vides the  Onondagas  to  furnish  a  King,  and  the  Mouhawks  a 
great  war  chief  of  the  Five  Nations."  In  his  own  peculiar  way  he 
described  the  first -ruler: 

About  this  time  the  Five  Families  become  independent  nations, 
and  they  formed  a  council  fire  in  each  nation,  etc.  Unfortunately 
a  war  broke  out  among  the  Five  Nations :  during  the  unhappy 
differences  the  Atotarho  was  the  most  hostile  chief,  resided  at  the 
fort  Onondaga ;  his  head  and  body  was  ornamented  with  black 
snakes;  his  dishes  and  spoons  were  made  of  skulls  of  the  enemy; 
after  a  while  he  requested  the  people  to  change  his  dress,  the 
people  immediately  drove  away  the  snakes. 

His  name  of  Tatotarho  or  Tadodaho,  The  Entangled,  alludes  to 
this  mythic  feature.  The  principal  Onondaga  chief,  however, 
was  often  called  by  the  council  name  of  the  nation,  and  sometimes 
by  what  may  be  another  official  title.  Cusick  enumerated  13 
successive  Atotarhos  down  to  the  time  of  the  discovery,  and 
there  have  been  several  since.  An  attempt  has  been  made  to  fix 
the  date  of  the  league  from  this,  but  the  results  are  not  reliable. 

The  names  of  the  50  principal  chiefs  follow,  as  given  in  the 
Onondaga  dialect.  The}-  vary  in  the  Seneca  and  Mohawk,  in  the 
latter  of  which  they  are  commonly  sung  at  condolences.  The 
Mohawk  chiefs  are  nine:  Te-kie-ho-ke".  Two  Voices;  Hi-e- 
wat-ha,  One  who  seeks  his  Lost  Mind  which  he  knows  where 
to  find  ;  Shat-e-kie-wat-he.  Two  Stories  in  One,  i.  e.  the  same 
story  from  two  persons ;  Sah-e-ho'-na,  He  is  a  Tree  with  Large 
Branches;  Te-yon-ha'-kwen,  That  which  we  live  on;  O-weh- 
he-go-na,  Large  Flower ;  Te-hah-nah-gai-eh-ne,  Two  Horns 
lying  down;  Has-tah-wcn-scnt-hah.  Holding  the  Rattles;  Sau- 
te-gai-e-wat-ha,  Plenty  of  Large  Limbs  on  a  Tree. 

The  Oneida  chiefs  are  also  nine,  as  follows  :  O-tat-sheh-te  or 
Tat-sheh-te,  Bearing  a  Quiver;  Ga-no-gwen-u-ton,  Setting  up 
Ears  of  Corn  in  a  Row;  Ty-o-ha-gwen-te,  Open  Voice;  Sho- 
non-ses,  His  Long  House ;  To-na-oh-ge-na,  Two  Branches  of 
Water:    Hat-ya-ton-nent-ha,  He  swallows  his  Own   Body  from 


I58  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

the  Foot ;  Te-ha-tah-on-ten-yonk,  Two  Hanging  Ears ;  Ha-nea- 
tok-hae-yea,  Throat  lying  down  ;  Ho-was-ha-tah-koo,  They  dis- 
inter Him. 

The  Onondagas  have  14  chiefs  in  the  grand  council:  Tah-too- 
ta-hoo,  Entangled ;  Ho-ne-sa-ha',  perhaps  The  Best  Soil  upper- 
most;  Te-hat-kah-tons,  Looking  all  over;  O-ya-ta-je-wak,  Bit- 
ter in  the  Throat;  Ah-we-ke-yat,  End  of  the  Water;  Te-hah- 
yut-kwa-ye,  Red  on  the  Wing;  Ho-no-we-eh-to,  He  has  disap- 
peared; Ga-wen-ne-sen-ton,  Her  Voice  scattered;  Ha-he-ho, 
Spilling  now  and  then;  Ho-neo-nea-ne',  Something  was  made 
for  Him,  or  was  Laid  down  before  Him;  Sha-de-gwa-se,  He  is 
bruised ;  Sah-ko-ke-he,  He  may  see  Them ;  Hoo-sah-ha-hon, 
Wearing  a  Weapon  in  his  Belt ;  Ska-nah-wah-ti,  (  )ver  the  Water. 

The  Cayugas  had  10  chiefs :  Te-ka-ha-hoonk,  He  looks  both 
Ways;  Ta-ge-non-tah-we-yu,  Coming  on  its  Knees;  Ka-ta- 
kwa-je,  It  was  bruised;  So-yone-wes,  He  has  a  Long  Wampum 
Belt ;  Ha-ta-as-yon-e,  He  puts  One  on  Another  ;  To-wen-yon-go, 
It  touches  the  Sky;  Jote-to-wa-ko,  Cold  on  Both  Sides;  Ta-hah- 
wet-ho,  Mossy  Place;  Too-tah-he-ho,  Crowding  Himself;  Des- 
kah-he,  Resting  on  It. 

There  are  eight  Seneca  chiefs:  kan-ya-tai-vo.  Beautiful  Lake: 
Sat-ta-kaa-yes,  Skies  of  Equal  Length  ;  Sa-tea'-na-wat,  He  holds 
on  to  Tt ;  Sa-ken-jo-nah,  Large  Forehead;  Ga -noon- gay -e, 
Threatened;  Xis-hi-nea-nent-hah.  The  Day  fell  down;  Kah- 
none-ge-eh-tah-we,  They  burned  their  Hair;  Ta-ho-ne-ho-gah- 
wrn.  Open  Door. 

The  Tuscaroras  have  nine  principal  chiefs,  who  are:  Ta'-ha- 
en-te-yah-wak-hon,  Encircling  and  holding  up  a  Tree,  which 
is  also  the  council  name;  Sa-kwi-sa  or  Se-qua-ri-se-ra ;  Tah-ka- 
yen-ten-ah  ;  Ta-wah-a-kate ;  Kah-en-yah-che-go-nah  ;  Ta-ka-hen- 
was-hen;  1  [o-tach-ha-ta ;  Na-wah-tah-toke,  Two  Moccasins 
Standing  together;  Sah-go-hone-date-hah,  The  One  that  spares 
Another.  One  or  two  of  these  may  be  doubtful,  but  none  rank  in 
the  council  as  high  as  the  others. 

Besides  the  chiefs  there  was  the  distinguished  rank  of  Agoian- 
ders,  a  kind  of  nobility  made  up  1  >f  men  and  women,  often  referred 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  159 

to  in  early  writings.  These  persons  had  special  duties  and  privi- 
leges, and  one  dance  was  called  after  them.  The  false  faces  and 
medicine  societies  do  not  correspond  to  them,  though  these  have 
peculiar  functions  and  honors. 

Two  of  their  national  names  were  foreign  to  their  language 
and  came  from  their  enemies.  Mohawk  is  not  an  Iroquois  word, 
nor  could  a  Mohawk  once  pronounce  it.  For  some  time  the 
Algonquin  family  lay  between  the  Dutch  and  that  nation,  and 
both  they  and  the  English  accepted  the  names  known  to  those 
living  near  them.  The  Dutch  called  them  Maquas  or  Bears, 
that  clan  being  prominent.  Hence  Father  Bruyas  wrote:  "  Gan- 
niagwari,  A  she  bear;  This  is  the  name  of  the  Mohawks."  Their 
accepted  name,  however,  was  Canienga,  At  the  Flint,  or  People 
of  the  Flint ;  commonly  given  as  Annies  or  Agniers  by  the 
French.  This  was  connected  with  the  idea  of  striking  fire  with 
a  steel,  and  the  steel  became  their  national  symbol.  As  this  was 
an  early  name  they  may  have  learned  to  use  the  steel  from 
Cartier  or  others  in  Canada,  long  before  the  rest  had  any  contact 
with  Europeans,  and  Sir  William  Johnson  derived  their  name 
from  the  steel  itself.  Bruyas  gave  kannia  for  gunflint,  which  is 
near  the  French  form  of  the  national  name.  As  for  our  horn- 
stone,  usually  termed  flint,  it  was  as  abundant  in  all  the  other 
Iroquois  territory  as  among  the  Mohawks.  The  use  of  this  with 
the  steel  made  a  distinction. 

The  Dutch  divided  the  Iroquois  into  Maquas  and  Senecas, 
Champlain  into  Iroquois  and  Entouhonorons,  and  later  French 
writers  into  lower  and  upper  Iroquois.  They  had  everywhere,  a 
terrible  reputation,  which  others  should  have  shared.  Roger 
Williams  said:  "The  Maguauogs,  or  Men-eaters,  that  live  three 
or  four  hundred  miles  west  from  us,  make  a  delicious  monstrous 
dish  of  the  heads  and  brains  of  their  enemies."  Their  common 
name  of  Mohawk  came  from  another  given  by  their  enemies, 
Mohowaug,  They  eat  Living  Creatures. 

Besides  the  national  title  each  nation  had  a  council  name  by 
which  it  was  addressed  in  public  conferences.  David  Cusick 
gave    this    for    the    Mohawks    as    Te-haw-re-ho-geh,    A    Speech 


l60  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Divided.  There  are  other  interpretations,  all  referring  to  a 
division,  mostly  of  words.  Albert  Cusick  thought  the  best  ren- 
dering, A  Heart  divided  into  Two  Hearts,  equivalent  to  our 
E  pluribus  unum,  and  perhaps  referring  to  their  peeuliar  union. 
The  national  boundary  east  was  the  top  of  the  hills  east  of  Scho- 
harie creek ;  on  the  west  it  is  said  to  have  been  at  Little  Falls. 
Northward  they  claimed  to  the  rock  Rogeo  on  Lake  Champlain. 
Thence  to  the  St  Lawrence  they  asserted  a  joint  ownership  with 
their  near  relatives,  the  Oneidas.  Their  villages  continually 
varied  in  number,  changing  from  one  side  of  the  river  to  the  other. 

The  Oneidas  were  closely  akin  to  the  Mohawks,  and  their 
language  is  much  the  same.  Roth  used  the  letter  L  freely,  that 
being  of  rare  occurrence  in  the  other  nations,  and  their  use  as 
interpreters,  with  the  Mohawks,  has  left  a  distinct  impress  on  the 
Indian  terminology  of  New  York.  Their  early  seat  was  prob- 
ably in  the  St  Lawrence  valley,  with  forts  north  and  south  of 
Ogdensburg.  They  seem  to  have  shared  in  the  Mohawk  exodus. 
and  to  have  sought  secluded  and  strong  situations,  as  both  Mo- 
hawks and  Onondagas  did.  All  three  were  for  a  time  more 
exposed  to  hostile  incursions  than  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas,  for 
the  Neutral  nation  lay  between  the  latter  and  the  Hurons,  and  the 
Algonquins  were  far  away.  For  this  reason  the  early  Oneidas 
never  dwelt  in  the  lowlands  about  Oneida  lake  and  farther  east, 
and  no  traces  of  them  are  found  there.     They  sought  the  hills. 

One  early  village  east  of  Chittenango  creek  and  Cazenovia  lake 
seems  theirs,  but  the  earliest  identified  with  their  name  was  a 
mile  southeast  of  Perryville,  at  a  remarkable  stone  now  destroyed, 
but  long  venerated  by  the  Indians.  It  was  a  dark  crystalline 
rock,  quite  erect  and  reaching  about  7  feet  above  ground.  Their 
name  refers  t<>  this  being  People  of  the  Stone,  or  more  exactly 
the  Upright  Stone.  In  [615  the)  were  at  Nichols'  pond  in  Fenner, 
a  fetv  miles  away.  That  village  also  included  a  large  boulder, 
and  similar  representative  stones  were  selected  as  their  villages 
moved  northward.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  an  excellent 
authority,  mentioned  one  in  Westmoreland.  The  Oneida  st<>m- 
of    [796   was  a   somewhat   cylindric   boulder,   weighing  over    100 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  l6l 

pounds.  Another  is  in  Forest  Hill  cemetery,  Utica  N.  Y.  Aug 
was  often  added  to  Oneida  to  signify  locality,  or  ronon  for  people. 
Their  council  name  is  Ne-haw-re-tah-go-wah,  or  Big  Tree,  refer- 
ring to  Hiawatha's  finding  them  by  a  large  tree  which  they  had 
just  cut  down. 

The  French  usually  termed  their  town  Onneiout,  and  their 
name  was  first  mentioned  and  castle  described  from  within  by 
Arent  Van  Curler  in  1634.  He  thought  them  a  part  of  the  Sen- 
ecas.  The  next  year  they  appeared  in  the  list  of  Iroquois  nations 
in  the  Jesuit  Relation.  The  Delawares  termed  the  Mohawks 
Sankhicani,  or  Fire-striking  People,  a  translation  of  their  own 
name.  The  Oneidas  were  W'Tassone,  Stone  Pipe-makers,  from 
their  excellence  in  this  art. 

Ononta,  said  an  early  French  writer,  means  a  hill  or  moun- 
tain. The  present  terminal  in  Onondaga  is  locative,  and  the 
word  ronon  was  for  a  time  added  to  signify  people.  Their  Dela- 
ware name  also  referred  to  their  situation.  For  a  century  they 
were  on  the  hills  near  Limestone  creek,  in  various  places,  leaving 
that  valley  in  1681,  and  making  their  home  on  Butternut  creek 
for  about  40  years  more.  Their  removal  to  Onondaga  creek  is 
not  so  exactly  known,  but  was  not  far  from  1720.  In  that  valley 
they  have  moved  several  times.  The  French  found  them  on 
Indian  hill,  Pompey,  in  1654,  and  first  mentioned  them  in  1635. 
Van  Curler  came  in  contact  with  them  early  that  year.  The 
league  was  formed  by  Onondaga  lake,  and  the  Grand  Council 
met  in  their  town.  Their  council  name  is  Seuh-no-keh-te,  Bear- 
ing the  Names,  and  sometimes  the  principal  chief  and  town  were 
called  by  this.     As  with  all  Indian  names  it  is  variously  spelled. 

The  gradual  increase  in  power  or  security  is  well  illustrated  by 
the  nation's  progressive  removals  from  secluded  to  exposed 
situations.  Champlain  noticed  this  practice  in  speaking  of  the 
Hurons  and  Senecas  in  1616:  "Sometimes  they  change  their 
Village  of  ten,  of  twenty,  or  thirty  years,  and  transport  it  from 
one,  two,  or  three  leagues  from  the  preceding  place,  unless  they 
are  constrained  by  their  enemies  to  dislodge  and  to  go  far  away, 
as  the  Antouhonorons  had  done  from  some  40  to  50  leagues." 


1 62 


NEW    YORK    STATE   MUSEUM 


The  Seneca  territory  had  included  both  sides  of  the  Genesee 
valley,  but,  when  the  Huron  war  broke  out,  they  withdrew  their 
towns  to  the  east  side.  Most  writers  make  the  duration  of  a 
town  from  10  to  15  years.  With  the  use  of  steel  axes  in  getting 
fuel  the  time  increased  greatly. 

The  French  at  first  called  the  Cayugas  Onioenronons,  and  their 
principal  town  and  country  Onioen.  Afterward  they  termed 
them  Goyoguins,  sometimes  omitting  the  first  letter.  The 
Moravians  called  them  Gajukas,  equivalent  to  our  Cayugas. 
Though  the  whole  of  Cayuga  lake  belonged  to  them,  they  lived 
mostly  at  the  lower  end  and  on  the  river  below.  In  early  days 
they  were  east  of  the  lake,  but  afterward  had  several  villages  on 
the  western  shore,  and  others  later  on  the  Susquehanna  and  its 
branches. 

David  Cusick's  name  is  much  like  the  later  French  form,  and 
he  defines  Go-yo-goh  as  Mountain  rising  from  the  Water.  L.  H. 
Morgan  gave  it  as  Gwe-u-gweh,  At  the  Mucky  Land;  and 
Albert  Cusick,  in  accord  with  interpretations  elsewhere,  as 
Kwe-u-kwe,  Where  they  drew  their  Boats  ashore.  In  every 
case  there  may  be  a  reference  to  the  high  and  firm  land  above 
the  marshes.  Their  council  name  is  Soh-ne-na-we-too-na,  Great 
Pipe,  and  this  is  their  symbol.  The  Delawares  called  them  after 
the  lake. 

That  Champlain,  when  he  came  from  the  Huron  country  in 
1615,  meant  the  lake  of  the  Senecas  by  that  of  the  Entouhonorons, 
or  Lake  Ontario,  seems  very  plain.  Between  Entouhonorons 
and  Sonnontouehronons  there  is  less  difference  than  often  occurs 
in  early  writers.  Champlain  had  noted  that  this  people  had 
drawn  in  their  frontier  towns,  something  needful  to  the  Senecas 
alone.  The  question  is  rather  whether  lie  included  some  other 
Iroquois  nations  with  them,  as  the  Dutch  did.  This  seems  the 
case,  and  his  words  imply  a  loose  confederation,  such  as  might 
be  expected  at  first.  In  describing  his  map  he  tells  of  the  fort 
of  1615,  where  he  "went  to  war  against  the  Autouhonorons," 
elsewhere  mentioned  as  an  [roquois  fort.  In  another  place  he 
said  this: 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  163 

The  Antouhonorons  are  15  villages,  built  in  strong  positions; 
enemies  of  all  others  except  the  Neutral  nation ;  their  country- 
is  fine  and  in  a  good  climate  near  the  River  St  Lawrence,  the 
passage  of  which  they  block  to  all  other  nations.  .  .  The 
Yroquois  and  the  Antouhonorons  make  war  together  against  all 
the  other  nations  except  the  Neutral  nation.  Carantouanis  is  a 
nation  to  the  south  of  the  Antouhonorons  .  .  .  from  whom 
they  are  only  three  days  distant. 

Here  are  several  particulars.  The  Antouhonorons  were  dis- 
tinct from  but  allied  with  the  Iroquois.  They  were  south  of 
Lake  Ontario,  but  commanded  the  St  Lawrence.  They  were  at 
peace  with  the  Neutrals.  The  Carantouanis  lay  three  days  south 
of  them,  and  these  have  been  placed  near  Waverly  N.  Y.,  and 
were  also  but  three  days  from  the  fort  in  Madison  county.  The 
inference  is  that  Champlain  meant  the  Mohawks  when  he  com- 
monly spoke  of  the  Iroquois,  and  sometimes  included  the  other 
four  nations  as  the  Antouhonorons. 

The  French  called  the  Seneca  country  Sonnontouan,  and  the 
Seneca  people  Sonnontouehronons  or  Tsonnontouans,  which  is 
very  near  the  name  of  the  Onondagas  in  meaning,  implying 
dwellers  on  or  among  the  great  hills.  Their  common  name  is 
Algonquin,  received  by  the  Dutch  from  the  Indians  near  the 
coast.  Hon.  George  S.  Conover  derived  it  from  the  common 
word  sinni,  to  eat,  in  allusion  to  cannibal  tastes,  or  their  being 
devourers  of  men  in  a  more  warlike  sense.  Horatio  Hale,  on 
the  authority  of  Mr  E.  G.  Squier,  gave  Sinako  as  the  Delaware 
name  for  stone  snakes,  or  as  applied  to  the  Senecas  for  mountain 
snakes.  This  word  does  not  appear  in  Zeisberger's  Delaware 
vocabulary;  and  Mr  Hale  spoke  doubtfully  of  it.  In  fact, 
Heckewelder  gave  the  Delaware  name  of  the  Senecas  as 
Maechachtinni,  Mountaineers,  and  he  is  good  authority.  Their 
council  name  is  Ho-neen-ho-hone-tah  in  Onondaga,  Possessing 
a  Door.  David  Cusick  gave  it  as  Te-how-nea-nyo-hent,  with 
the  same  meaning. 

The  Tuscaroras  were  added  in  1714,  their  name  signifying  the 
Shirt-wearing  People,  and  the  confederacy  has  since  commonly 
been  termed  the  Six  Nations.     Their  position  is  not  equal  to  the 


164  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

others,  but  more  like  that  of  our  territories.  Except  by  courtesy 
they  have  no  votes,  nor  had  they  any  title  to  the  lands  on  which 
they  lived  till  they  secured  their  present  reservation.  Their 
council  name  is  Tu-hah-te-ehn-yah-wah-kou,  Those  who  em- 
brace the  Great  Tree ;  perhaps  because  the  Oneidas  received 
them.  The  Indian  idea  is  that  the  Five  Nations  are  the  house, 
the  Tuscaroras  like  a  woodhouse,  built  outside  but  attached. 

In  describing  their  symbols  in  1736,  the  Onondaga  device  was 
a  cabin  on  top  of  a  hill,  the  Mohawk  a  flint  and  steel,  the  Oneida 
a  stone  in  the  fork  of  a  tree,  the  Cayuga  a  great  pipe,  and  the 
Seneca  a  mountain.  Charlevoix  made  a  curious  but  not  surpris- 
ing mistake  in  these  signatures  as  made  in  1700.  Indian  draw- 
ing is  not  yet  artistic,  and  he  said,  "  The  savages  signed,  each 
one  putting  the  mark  of  his  nation  at  the  foot  of  the  treaty.  The 
Onondagas  and  Tsonnontouans  traced  a  spider,  the  Goyogouins 
a  calumet,  etc."     The  former  were  hills. 

The  relationship  of  the  nations  has  sometimes  changed,  but  at 
present  the  Mohawks,  Onondagas  and  Senecas  are  the  elder 
brothers ;  the  Oneidas,  Cayugas  and  Tuscaroras  the  younger. 
Pyrlaeus  said  that  at  first  the  Mohawks  were  the  elder  brother, 
the  Oneidas  eldest  son,  and  the  Senecas  youngest  son.  Then  the 
Tuscaroras  became  youngest  son.  The  Mohawks  were  always 
considered  the  oldest  brother,  and  the  present  arrangement  is  at 
least  150  years  old.  When  chiefs  die  or  are  to  be  raised  in  either 
of  these,  the  opposite  brotherhood  takes  charge  of  all  the  cere- 
monies and  installs  the  new  chiefs.  In  Canada  now,  where  every 
nation  and  chief  corresponds  to  those  in  New  York,  there  is  a 
difference  in  voting.  The  older  and  younger  brothers  separately 
determine  what  their  vote  shall  be.  and.  if  they  disagree,  the 
Onondagas,  as  fire-keepers,  have  the  casting  vote.  In  this  case 
the  Onondagas  sit  in  the  center  of  the  council  house,  and  the 
representatives  of  the  two  brotherhoods  are  on  opposite  sides. 
Each  announces  its  vote,  and  the  fire-keepers  do  the  same.  The 
latter  are  supposed  to  kindle  and  cover  the  fire.  There  is  a 
similar  division  of  clans  for  games  and  feasts. 

The  names  by  which  the  league  was  called  are  less  than  some 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  165 

have  thought.  The  Algonquins  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
vania termed  the  Andastes,  or  Susquehannas,  Minquas.  These 
were  both  the  kindred  and  enemies  of  the  Five  Nations;  and, 
after  the  Iroquois  had  subjugated  them,  the  whole  family  was 
termed  Mingo  in  Pennsylvania,  as  speaking  the  same  language. 
Thus  Logan  the  Cayuga  is  often  called  a  Mingo.  There  were 
other  foreign  names  of  less  note. 

Their  own  name  came  from  comparing  their  league  to  one  of 
their  long  houses,  having  a  door  at  each  end  and  separate  fires 
for  each  family  through  the  length  of  the  house.  This  title  has 
been  variously  spelled  and  translated.  The  Moravians  called 
them  Aquanoschioni,  prefixing  a  syllable,  and  rendering  it 
Covenant  or  United  People.  Hale  gave  the  Mohawk  name  as 
Rotinonsionni,  They  of  the  Extended  House.  Morgan  gave  the 
Seneca  as  Ho-de-no-sau-nee,  People  of  the  Long  House.  Bruyas 
interpreted  Hotinnonsionni  as  Cabin -makers.  The  Onondaga 
name  is  Kan-no-se-o'-ne,  A  Long  House  made  of  Several  Houses 
put  together.  David  Cusick  simply  made  the  name  Goo-nea- 
seah-ne  mean  Long  House.  The  Rev.  Mr  Dellius,  in  1694, 
thought  Honontonchionni  equivalent  to  "  Konossioni,  which  is 
the  whole  howse,  or  all  the  Indians  together."  The  Relation  of 
1654  said  that  the  Iroquois  call  themselves  "  Hotinnonchiendi. 
that  is  to  say,  the  finished  cabin,  as  if  they  were  only  one  family." 

Charlevoix's  fanciful  account  of  the  origin  of  the  word,  Iro- 
quois, has  been  generally  accepted  till  quite  recently.  He  said, 
"  The  name  of  Iroquois  is  purely  French,  and  has  been  formed 
from  the  term  hiro,  '  I  have  spoken,'  a  word  by  which  these 
Indians  close  all  their  speeches,  and  koue',  which  when  long 
drawn  out,  is  a  cry  of  sorrow,  and  when  briefly  uttered,  is  an 
exclamation  of  joy." 

The  truth  is  that  this  was  an  early  Algonquin  name  for  this 
people,  which  Champlain  had  from  the  Indians  on  the  lower  St 
Lawrence  in  1603,  six  years  before  he  met  the  Iroquois  on  Lake 
Champlain,  and  when  he  could  have  known  nothing  of  their 
speech.  He  seems  to  have  found  this  in  constant  use  east  of 
that  place,  and  before  he  encountered  any  people  speaking  the 


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NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Huron  tongue.  This  fact  invalidates  Mr  Hale's  idea  that  it  was 
of  Huron  origin,  deriving  it  primarily  from  garokwa,  a  pipe,  and 
thence  from  the  indeterminate  verb  ierokwa,  they  who  smoke. 
As  all  Indians  smoked,  this  has  no  force.  He  hazarded  another 
supposition,  that,  as  Maquas  were  sometimes  termed  Bears,  for 
which  the  Mohawk  name  was  Ohkwari,  and  the  Cayuga  Iakwm 
(Yekwai  in  Schoolcraft),  the  term  Iroquois  might  have  come  from 
this.  Mr  Brant-sero  would  derive  it  from  the  Mohawk  I-ih  ro-  \ 
I  am  the  Real  Man :  Mr  David  Boyle  from  karokwa,  the  sun. 
All  these  conjectures  are  plausible.,  but  we  must  remember  that 
the  name  was  Algonquin,  and  that  the  termination  was  in  com- 
mon use  by  that  family  at  that  time,  as  applied  to  nations  and 
tribes,  having  the  force  of  the  Iroquois  ronon  or  people.  One  has 
but  to  remember  the  Abenaquois.  Soriquois.  Almouchiquois, 
Charioquois  or  Hurons.  and  many  others,  to  see  what  the  ter- 
minal means. 

Recognizing  its  Algonquin  origin.  Mr  J.  X.  B.  Hewitt  says  it 
suggests  the  Algonquin  words  irin,  true  or  real :  ako.  snake : 
with  the  French  termination  ois,  the  word  becomes  Irinakois." 
This  is  much  better,  if  not  quite  satisfactory,  but  quois  is  still 
the  terminal  of  many  tribal  names.  It  may  have  come  from  ahki. 
a  place.  Iroquet.  a  chief  whose  people  were  called  after  him, 
was  also  an  Algonquin.  The  latest  Algonquin  dictionaries  of 
the  eastern  nations  do  not  contain  Mr  Hewitt's  words.  The 
nearest  approach  to  ako  is  achgook. 

Generally  the  site  of  the  formative  council  has  been  placed  on 
the  northeastern  shore  of  Onondaga  lake,  a  very  suitable  spot, 
but  some  later  Onondagas  have  assigned  it  to  the  center  of  Syra- 
cuse, equally  unsuitable  in  early  days.  Some  wampum  belts 
have  been  made  coeval  with  the  league,  a  date  much  too  early. 
Hiawatha's  white  canoe  is  prominent  in  the  story,  bringing  him 
to  his  first  labors  and  bearing  him  aloft  when  all  was  done.  The 
gges  •;  teaching  but  was  not  foreign   to  abo- 

ght.    Historically.  a>  he  left  the  lake  for  the  Mohawk 
-  white  birch  canoe  may  have  been  a  strong  contrast 
to  the  dark  elm  bark  car 


HISTORY   OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  167 

One  or  two  things  more  may  be  added  about  the  league.  At 
first  it  seems  a  loose  alliance,  holding  periodical  councils  to  pre- 
vent internal  hostilities,,  but  gradually  becoming  stronger  and 
with  more  definite  laws.  In  1655  the  Mohawks  and  Senecas  were 
almost  at  war,  and  the  former  took  defensive  measures.  Each 
nation  made  war  or  peace  for  itself,  but,  while  this  continued 
through  all  their  history,  they  were  most  of  the  time  a  united 
people.  Aggressive  wars  were  popular,  and  all  might  heartily 
engage  in  these.  When  they  were  invaded,  each  nation  took  care 
of  itself,  sometimes  proposing  aid  but  giving  none. 

One  feature  should  not  be  overlooked,  the  rank  and  great  influ- 
ence of  women,  of  which  many  examples  could  be  given.  Some 
Xew  York  treaties  bear  their  names.  The  children  followed  the 
mother's  clan  and  nation,  and  the  chief  women  had  the  power  of 
naming  principal  chiefs  for  their  clan  or  family.  Speeches  are 
made  in  the  council  for  them  but  not  by  them,  and  Red  Jacket 
was  long  their  speaker.  Peace  or  war.  matters  of  general  wel- 
fare, have  often  rested  on  their  decision.  Tilling  the  soil,  they 
sometimes  claimed  its  ownership.  The  most  curious  testimony 
to  the  estimation  of  women  is  the  old  Huron  and  Iroquois  rule, 
that  for  a  woman's  life  the  atonement  should  be  double  that  of 
a  man. 

Chapter  5 

Weakness  of  early  Iroquois.  Good  Iroquois  or  Hurons.  First  battle  with 
Champlain.  Preparations  for  this  and  location.  Battle  of  1610.  Invasion 
of  Iroquois  in  1615.  Route  of  Champlain.  Siege  of  Oneida  fort.  Brule"s 
adventures.  Coming  of  the  Dutch  and  their  maps.  Supposed  treaty  at 
Tawasentha.  Insufficient  evidence.  Efforts  for  peace  between  Algon- 
quins  and  Iroquois.  Dutch  attack  Mohawks.  Fort  Orange  built.  Re- 
newed war  between  Iroquois  and  Canadian  Indians.  Mahicans  sell 
their  lands. 

With  all  their  bravery  and  wisdom,  the  Iroquois  seem  to  have 
been  barely  holding  their  own  when  first  known  as  residents  in 
Xew  York.  Champlain  came  to  Tadoussac  in  1603.  before  he 
had  seen  them,  and  found  the  Indians,  "  rejoicing  for  the  vicl 
obtained  by  them  over  the  Irocois,  of  whom  they  had  killed  some 
hundred,  whose  heads  (scalps)  they  had  cut  off,  which  they  had 


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NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


with  them  for  their  ceremony."  A  thousand  Etchemins,  Algou- 
mequins  and  Montagnez  had  defeated  100  Iroquois  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  called  from  them,  and  Mowing  from  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  They  had  to  do  this  by  surprise,  for  the  Iroquois  were 
more  numerous  than  all  three  nations,  controlling-  all  the  St 
Lawrence  above  Three  Rivers.  He  got  an  account  of  the 
Mohawk  country  at  this  time,  two  rivers  leading  to  it.  The  same 
year  the  Iroquois  were  again  beaten  in  a  small  tight,  though  the 
odds  were  in  their  favor.  While  on  the  New  England  coast  in 
1605,  Champlain  saw  a  river  which  he  thought  went  "  toward 
the  Hiroquois,  a  nation  who  have  open  war  with  the  Montagnars, 
who  are  in  the  great  river  St  Lawrence."  They  were  not  men- 
tioned again  till   1609. 

It  does  not  appear  that  Hudson  encountered  any  Iroquois  in 
his  voyage  of  that  year.  Assertions  of  this  have  no  sound  basis, 
the  Mohawks  living  many  miles  from  the  river  and  their  ene- 
mies everywhere  holding  its  banks.  Champlain  had  a  different 
fortune  while  exploring  the  land.  In  doing  this,  he  met  with  the 
Hurons,  whom  he  at  first  called  Ochateguins  from  one  of  their 
chiefs,  but  learned  that  these  were  "  good  Yroquois.  The  other 
Yroquois,  their  enemies,  are  more  to  the  south."  These  he  soon 
sought. 

He  left  the  Chambly  rapids  on  the  River  of  the  Iroquois.  July 
2,  1609,  with  20  canoes  and  60  Indians,  called  Montagnars  from 
the  mountains  near  Quebec.  Two  Frenchmen  were  with  him. 
In  Lake  Champlain  he  came  to  four  large  islands,  inhabited 
before  the  war.  The  eastern  shore  had  then  belonged  to  the 
Iroquois,  but  they  now  lived  farther  south,  beyond  Lake  George, 
and  the  route  was  clearly  described  to  him.  July  2()  they  encoun- 
tered 200  Iroquois,  but  the  brief  battle  took  place  next  day.  It 
di tiered  much  from  our  ideas  of  Indian  warfare.  Some  days 
before  the  chiefs  of  his  party  assigned  each  man  his  place  and 
part  by  carefully  arranging  as  many  sticks,  and  there  was  a  drill 
on  this.  The  Iroquois  had  stone  axes  and  some  of  iron,  obtained 
in  war  or  trade.  Amicable  arrangements  were  made  for  the 
morrow's   combat    by   the   opposing  chiefs.       Next    day   the    Mo- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  169 

hawks  advanced  in  good  order,  led  by  three  chiefs,  distinguished 
by  their  larger  plumes.  On  landing,  the  Montagnars  ran  toward 
the  enemy,  but  opened  their  ranks  to  let  Champlain  take  the  lead. 
The  Mohawks  halted  at  this  new  sight,  and  his  first  shot  killed 
two  chiefs  and  wounded  a  third,  though  clad  in  arrow-proof 
armor.  This  decided  the  contest,  but  many  others  were  killed 
and  some  taken  prisoners. 

This  meeting  has  been  assigned  to  both  Ticonderoga  and 
Crown  Point.  For  the  former  it  may  be  said  that  they  returned 
three  hours  after  the  fight,  and  yet  Champlain  saw  Ticonderoga 
falls.  For  the  latter,  that  the  Iroquois  came  down  the  lake  to 
the  large  point  where  they  stopped,  whence  we  might  at  first, 
but  not  conclusively,  infer  they  were  north  of  the  portage.  He 
added.  "  The  place  where  this  battle  was  fought  is  in  43  degrees 
some  minutes  latitude,  and  I  named  it  Lake  Champlain."  Crown 
Point  is  very  near  the  44th  parallel.  In  this  case  it  is  probable 
the  Mohawks  embarked  at  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain. 

In  1610  he  had  another  encounter  with  the  Iroquois.  Some 
Algoumequins  and  Montagnais  had  attacked  a  temporary  fort 
in  which  100  of  their  enemies  had  taken  refuge,  and  were  repulsed 
with  the  loss  of  some  of  their  best  men.  Even  the  French  were 
not  at  first  successful,  terrible  as  firearms  were  then  to  the  Iro- 
quois. Reinforcements  came  ;  Champlain  had  a  tree  felled  across 
the  barricade,  and  the  place  was  carried  by  assault,  few  of  the 
defenders  escaping. 

For  some  time  there  were  but  brief  references  to  the  Iroquois, 
and  then  Champlain  took  part  in  what  was  intended  for  a  crush- 
ing, but  was  an  unsuccessful  blow.  In  161 5  he  visited  the 
Hurons,  sometimes  called  the  good  Iroquois  from  their  friend- 
ship for  the  Algonquins  and  the  French,  the  latter  known  to  them 
as  the  Agnonha  or  iron  men.  He  commenced  his  journey  July  9, 
with  Etienne  Brule,  the  interpreter,  a  French  servant  and  some 
Indians,  ascending  the  Ottawa,  part  of  which  he  had  already 
traversed.  Reaching  the  Georgian  bay,  he  followed  its  shores 
to  the  Huron  towns  toward  Lake  Simcoe.  The  Recollect  Father, 
Le  Caron  already  had  a  mission  there,  and  eight  of  his  French- 


17°  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

men  joined  Champlain.  Brule  was  sent  with  some  Hurons  to 
notify  a  tribe  of  the  Andastes,  living  on  the  Chemung  river 
where  it  crosses  the  New  York  line,  who  wished  to  join  in  the 
attack  with  500  men.  To  do  this,  he  had  to  take  a  long  and  cir- 
cuitous route,  and  did  not  arrive  in  time. 

The  Hurons,  with  Champlain  and  his  nine  men,  crossed  the 
country  to  the  River  Trent,  where  they  found  fields  abandoned 
because  of  the  war.  Near  the  eastern  end  of  Lake  Ontario  they 
crossed  by  one  of  two  possible  routes.  The  place  where  they 
left  the  lake  is  affected  by  this,  but  will  not  be  discussed  now. 
That  the  route  crossed  the  outlet  of  Oneida  lake  is  certain,  and 
repeated  examinations  strengthen  the  claim  that  it  then  turned 
southeast,  terminating  at  Nichols'  pond  in  the  town  of  Fenner. 
This  is  in  the  Oneida  territory,  and  the  local  and  archeologic 
features  are  satisfactory.  On  the  site  is  a  boulder  15  feet  long, 
which  may  have  been  the  Oneida  stone  of  that  day,  giving  it  the 
name  of  the  village  of  the  stone,  or  rather  continuing  it  from  the 
town  last  occupied. 

The  stockade  was  made  of  four  rows  of  palisades,  crossing  at 
the  top  and  affording  broad  though  rude  battlements,  reached 
by  simple  ladders.  It  extended  some  distance  into  the  very  shal- 
low pond,  thus  securing  a  supply  of  water  which  could  not  be 
cut  off  and  which  readily  extinguished  every  fire.  The  bark 
gutters  for  domestic  use  became  a  means  of  saving  the  town 
from  the  enemy.  Here  Champlain  encamped  Oct.  10,  remaining 
till  the  16th.  The  Iroquois  still  feared  firearms,  but  less  than 
at  first,  and,  as  they  retreated,  told  the  French  "  not  to  meddle  in 
their  fights."  Champlain  made  a  movable  tower,  and  200  men 
placed  it  near  the  wall.  The  Arquebuses  drove  the  Iroquois 
from  the  gallery,  but  the  untrained  Indians  took  no  advantage 
of  this,  and  all  efforts  to  burn  the  town  failed.  Champlain  was 
wounded  and  the  Hurons  discouraged.  Nothing  was  accom- 
plished, but  they  agreed  to  wait  four  days  for  their  allies.  Some 
skirmishes  followed,  the  French  saving  the  Hurons  in  each.  The 
500  men  not  coming  at  the  time  agreed,  they  made  litters  for  the 
wounded  and  decamped.     Champlain  was  carried  on  one  of  these 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  171 

for  several  days  in  great  discomfort,  but  the  boats  were  reached 
in  safety. 

Two  days  later  Brule  and  his  Indians  came  and  did  nothing. 
The  Iroquois  were  encouraged,  having  beaten  the  white  men;  the 
Oneidas  were  not  destroyed,  nor  the  confederacy  severed  in 
twain.  The  forest  fight  had  far-reaching  consequences,  though 
it  may  be  doubted  whether  the  Iroquois  had  a  lasting  resentment 
against  the  French  because  of  this.  Champlain  went  back  to 
the  Huron  country,  where  he  spent  the  winter.  The  next  spring 
he  could  get  no  guides,  as  the  Hurons  wished  to  retain  him  for 
another  expedition,  but  at  last  he  got  away.  Brule  spent  the 
winter  at  Carantouan  or  Big  Tree,  and  explored  the  Susque- 
hanna to  the  sea.  He  did  not  return  to  the  French  till  1618,  and 
then  had  a  curious  tale  to  tell.  Trying  to  cross  the  country  of 
the  Iroquois,  he  fell  into  their  hands,  and  escaped  death  by  his 
boldness,  tact  and  good  luck.  He  visited  Lake  Superior  and  the 
copper  mines  during  this  period,  and  at  a  later  day  was  killed  in 
a  Huron  town. 

Meanwhile  the  Dutch  were  trading  on  the  Hudson,  as  far  as 
the  head  of  navigation,  and  two  maps  have  been  published 
assigned  to  1614  and  1616,  containing  a  good  deal  relating  to 
the  interior  west  of  that  river.  One  of  these  is  partly  repro- 
duced, and  is  on  a  smaller  scale  than  the  older  one.  The  latter 
has  the  Maquaas  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk  river,  and  on 
the  south  side  the  Canoomakers,  probably  an  Indian  and  not 
European  word.  South  of  a  large  lake  are  the  Senecas,  and  on 
what  may  be  the  Chemung  at  Carantouan  are  the  Gachoos.  The 
Capitanasses  and  Minquaas  are  farther  down  the  Susquehanna, 
the  latter  people  extending  far  eastward.  Between  these,  but 
farther  west,  are  the  Iottecas.  This  is  the  map  of  1614,  and  the 
maker  of  it  said : 

Of  what  Kleynties  and  his  Comrade  have  Communicated  to  me 
respecting  the  locality  of  the  Rivers,  and  the  position  of  the 
Tribes  which  they  found  in  their  Expedition  from  the  Maquaas 
into  the  interior  and  along  the  New  River  downwards  to  the 
Ogehage,  (that  is  to  say,  the  Enemies  of  the  aforesaid  northern 
tribes,)  I  can  not  at  present  find  any  thing  at  hand,  except  two 


172  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

rough  drafts  of  Maps  relating  thereto,  partly  drawn  with  accur- 
acy. And  in  deliberately  considering  how  \  can  best  reconcile 
this  one  with  the  rough  drafts  Communicated,  I  find  that  the 
places  of  the  tribes  of  the  Sennecas,  Gachoos,  Capitanasses,  and 
Jotteeas,  ought  to  be  marked  down  considerably  further  west 
into  the  Country. 

The  map  of  1616  is  on  a  smaller  scale  and  embraces  part  of 
Canada.  While  retaining  the  main  features  of  the  other,  the 
lettering  is  by  a  different  hand  and  there  are  slight  changes  in 
the  spelling.  Lake  Champlain  is  far  to  the  east  and  is  labeled 
"  Hcf  Meer  Vand  Irocoisen."  Its  eastern  shore  is  called  Irocoisia, 
a  sufficient  refutation  of  the  story  of  Charlevoix.  East  of  this  is 
the  country  of  the  Almouchicoisen  in  Xew  England,  showing 
again  an  early  use  of  this  terminal  by  the  Algonquins.  The  note 
on  French  sloops  and  the  Mohawks  is  on  this  map. 

A  petition,  to  which  this  chart  was  annexed,  was  read  to  the 
officials  of  the  States  General  Aug.  t8,  1616,  asking  that  they 
would  "  be  pleased  to  hear  the  aforesaid  Cornelis  Hendrickxzen's 
Report,  and  to  examine  the  aforesaid  Map  and  Discovery."  The 
discovery  was  of  a  bay  and  three  rivers  southwest  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Hudson.  One  item  is  of  interest:  "He  also  traded  for, 
and  bought  from  the  inhabitants,  the  Minquaees,  three  persons, 
being  people  belonging  to  this  Company  ;  which  three  persons 
were  employed  in  the  service  of  the  Mohawks  and  Machicans; 
giving  for  them  kettles,  beads  and  merchandize." 

Champlain  said  the  people  of  Carantouan  took  these  three  men 
in  war  in  1014.  The}-  could  safely  trade  011  the  Hudson  with  the 
Mahicans,  but.  to  trade  with  the  Mohawks,  an  inland  journey 
must  be  made.  (  )n  one  of  these  trading  trips  they  were  made 
prisoners.  Champlain  said  their  captors  returned  them  without 
harm,  thinking  they  were  French.  *'  (  Otherwise  these  three  pris- 
oners would  not  have  been  suffered  to  get  oft  ^«»  cheaply." 
Through  the  llurons  the  Susquehanna  Indians  had  a  g<><>d 
opinion  of  tin-  French.     AH  were  foes  of  the  [roquois. 

Connected  with  this  early  trade  is  the  story  of  a  Dutch  and 
[roquois  treaty  at  Tawasentha.  or  Normans  kill,  below  Albany, 
credited  by  main   on  very  small  proof.      This  was  iii  the   Mahican 


HISTORY    OF    THK    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  173 

territory,  two  days' journey  from  the  Mohawk  frontier.  Between 
these  there  was  almost  constant  warfare.  When  Van  Curler 
visited  the  Mohawks  in  [642,  there  was  no  formal  treaty  with 
them,  and  the  first  one  was  made  in  l/>45-  This  was  often 
referred  to  in  later  days.  As  the  fort  was  an  early  trading  post, 
there  may  have  been  a  council  with  the  Mahicans,  the  owners 
of  the  land. 

In  connection  with  French  and  English  claims  this  story  had 
importance,  and  evidence  was  framed  to  fit  the  case.  (  )f  this 
kind  was  that  of  Catelyn  Trico,  a  Frenchwoman  who  testified  in 
1688  to  this  effect,  that  she  went  to  Albany,  then  called  Fort 
(  )range.  in  1623.  and  stayed  there  three  years,  living  in  Xew  York 
and  on  Long  Island  always  afterward.  That  she  was  83  years 
old,  and  that  during  her  stay  at  Albany  *"  ye  Mahikanders  or 
River  Indians:  ye  Maquase :  Oneydes:  Onnondagages,  Cay- 
ouges.  &  Sinnekes.  \vth  ye  Alahawawa  or  Ottawawaes  Indians 
came  &  made  Covenants  of  friendship  wth  ye  s(1  Arien  Jorise  there 
Commander."  with  other  remarkable  incidents  distinctly  remem- 
bered ()2  years  later.  At  that  time  there  was  no  way  for  the 
Ottawas  to  reach  Albany;  and.  when  they  came  in  the  18th  cen- 
tury, they  said  they  had  never  been  there  before.  Most  of  the 
Five  Nations  were  not  recognized  by  the  Dutch  by  these  names 
till  1602,  nor  were  they  in  common  use  till  the  second  English 
occupation,  but  the  venerable  Mrs  Trico  remembered  just  what 
Governor   Dongan  wished. 

Pyrlaeus  made  a  note  more  to  the  point  regarding  the  place, 
when   lie   wrote  in    1743  : 

According  to  my  informant.  Sganarady.  a  creditable  aged 
Indian,  his  grandfather  had  been  one  of  the  deputies  sent  for  the 
purpose  of  entering  into  a  covenant  with  the  whole  Europeans; 
they  met  at  a  place  called  Xordman's  Kill,  about  four  miles  below 
where  Albany  was  built,  where  the  covenant  of  friendship  was 
first  established,  and  the  Mohawks  were  the  active  body  in 
effecting  this  work. 

If  this  Indian  were  then  70  years  old  and  his  father  30  at  his 
birth — certainly   a   fair   allowance — his   grandfather    might    have 


174  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

attended  the  first  historie  council  with  the  Mohawks  in  1645,  and 
have  been  then  40  years  old.  It  seems  needless  to  take  30  years 
from  this  date  and  make  the  grandsire  a  boy. 

The  Algonquins  and  Iroquois  had  been  at  war  over  50  years 
when  they  began  to  talk  of  peace  in  1622.  June  2  two  Iroquois 
came  to  Three  Rivers  to  confer  about  this  and  were  well  received, 
after  which  they  returned  home  with  four  deputies  and  many 
presents.  Six  weeks  later  the  deputies  came  back,  having  been 
heartily  welcomed  by  the  Mohawks.  Unfortunately  a  trouble- 
some fellow,  who  went  with  them,  treacherously  killed  an  Iro- 
quois on  the  way,  and  it  was  feared  the  war  would  be  renewed. 
The  Iroquois  were  considerate,  thinking  it  a  piece  of  personal 
malice,  sent  six  more  deputies  and  concluded  peace  in  the  spring 
of  1624. 

Le  Clercq  said  that  early  in  1622,  30  Iroquois  canoes  passed 
Three  Rivers  and  attacked  the  Recollect  convent  near  Quebec, 
but  he  often  erred,  though  positive  in  this  statement.  Neither 
Champlain  nor  Sagard  mentions  it,  nor  does  it  harmonize  with 
other  events. 

Meanwhile  the  Dutch  were  busy.  In  the  spring  of  1623  a 
"  ship  sailed  up  to  the  Maykans," — not  to  the  Mohawks.  The 
distance  was  estimated  at  about  132  English  miles,  and  the 
colony  built  Fort  Orange  on  Castle  island.  "  Right  opposite  is 
the  fort  of  the  Maykans,  which  they  built  against  their  enemies, 
the  Maquaees,  a  powerful  people."  These  were  then  at  war,  and 
in  1626  the  former  asked  help  of  the  Dutch,  who  were  willing. 
Commander  ECrieckebeck  and  six  others  marched  with  them 
toward  the  Mohawk  country.  A  league  from  the  fort  they  met 
the  Mohawks,  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  and  were  defeated, 
the  Dutch  commander  and  three  of  his  men  being  killed.  The 
Mohawks  cooked  and  ate  one  and  burned  the  rest,  reserving  an 
arm  and  leg  as  trophies  for  those  at  home.  Peter  Barentsen, 
their  favorite  trader,  visited  them  a  few  days  later,  for  they  could 
not  come  to  the  river  to  trade.  They  said  "  they  had  never 
injured  the  whites,  and  asked  the  reason  why  the  latter  had  med- 
dled  with  them.      Had   it   been   otherwise,   they   would   not  have 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  175 

acted  as  they  had."  It  is  evident  there  was  then  no  treaty  of 
friendship. 

De  Laet  makes  the  statement  that  a  fort  was  built  at  Albany 
in  1614  and  constantly  occupied  till  1617.  Also  that  Henry 
Christians  first  commanded,  and  in  his  absence  James  Elkens, 
who  received  authority  from  the  States  General  in  1614.  This 
seems  well  attested.  Elkens  traded  near  Fort  Orange  in  1633, 
and  testified  that  he  had  lived  four  years  with  the  Indians.  He 
was  then  42  years  old,  which  would  have  made  him  23  in  1614. 
Another  witness  said  that,  if  they  could  have  stayed  there  another 
month,  the  Mohawks  would  have  brought  them  4000  beaver  skins, 
and  the  Mahicans  300  more.  Only  through  such  trade  could 
they  get  wampum  and  other  supplies. 

The  report  of  the  fight  between  the  Mohawks  and  Dutch 
reached  Canada  in  a  few  days,  and  some  Canadian  visitors,  the 
next  winter,  were  solicited  by  the  Mahicans  to  break  the  peace 
already  made  and  take  sides  with  them.  Some  favored  and  some 
opposed  this,  but  the  war  feeling  was  so  strong  that  some  Iro- 
quois deputies  were  badly  treated.  Another  violent  act  occurred. 
In  1627  a  Frenchman  went  on  a  peace  embassy  to  the  Mohawks, 
with  some  Canadian  Indians.  Some  Senecas  came  who  had 
recently  suffered  from  the  Algonquins,  and  in  their  rage  they  at 
once  killed  all  the  ambassadors  before  the  Mohawks  could  pre- 
vent it.  The  Algonquins  retaliated  by  torturing  an  Iroquois 
hostage,  and  war  followed.  It  is  probable  these  Senecas  were  of 
nations  east  of  those  to  whom  the  name  was  afterward  restricted. 

The  temporary  subjection  of  Canada  to  the  English  came  in 
1629,  but  in  the  privations  which  preceded  this  Champlain  seri- 
ously thought  of  seizing  one  of  the  Iroquois  towns,  with  50  or  60 
Frenchmen,  "  passing  there  the  rest  of  the  summer,  autumn  and 
winter,  rather  than  to  die  of  hunger  one  after  another  in  the 
plantation." 

Soon  after  most  of  the  Mahicans  left  the  Hudson  because  of 
the  war,  but  still  retained  their  territorial  rights,  as  was  then  the 
custom.  It  was  a  favorable  time  to  buy  Indian  lands,  and  Kiliaen 
Van  Rensselaer  embraced  the  opportunity  in  1630,  acquiring  most 


r 

1/6  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

of  the  Mahican  lands  near  Rensselaerwyck  and  west  of  the  river 
to  the  Mohawk  border,  and  on  the  east  side  to  the  same  extent. 
No  Mohawk  names  are  on  his  deeds.  Some  land  was  added  on 
the  east  in  1637.  and  his  tract  was  24  miles  long  and  48  wide. 
With  no  Mahicans  now  intervening-,  the  Dutch  had  closer  rela- 
tions with  the  Mohawks.  A  few  Mahicans  lingered  in  their  old 
homes  and  those  who  had  removed  were  sometimes  hostile,  but 
at  a  later  day  many  retnrned  to  New  York  and  the  old  foes 
became  allies  and  friends. 

Chapter  6 

French  visit  Hurons  and  Neutrals.  Daillon  in  New  York.  Increase  <*\ 
Iroquois  trade  and  strength.  War  with  Canadian  Indians.  Van  Curler's 
journey  to  Oneida.  Each  of  the  Five  Nations  first  mentioned  by  name. 
Fear  of  Mohawks  in  New  England.  Canoe  fight.  Huron  war  continues. 
A  Neutral  tribe  joins  the  Hurons.  Eries  described.  Iroquois  retaliate 
on  French.  Montreal  founded.  Onontio.  French  forts  built.  Jogues 
taken.     Mohawk  sacrifice. 

Meanwhile  the  French  power  was  developing  in  Canada. 
opposed  to  the  Dutch  in  religion,  nationality  and  trade,  and  this 
soon  greatly  affected  the  Iroquois  nations.  ( )f  their  kindred 
north  of  Lake  Erie  brief  mention  has  already  been  made.  All 
were  populous  and  powerful,  but  less  warlike  than  others.  Their 
towns  were  well  defended,  but  not  so  well  as  those  of  the  Iro- 
quois. During  war  they  abandoned  many  of  their  frontier  towns, 
and  thus  the  Petuns  and  Hurons.  once  having  towns  farther 
cast,  were  now  thickly  grouped  between  Lake  Simcoe  and  the 
Georgian  bay.  The  researches  of  Mr  A.  F.  Hunter  and  others 
in  locating  and  describing  the  ossuaries  and  town  sites  of  these 
nations,  have  greatly  enlarged  our  knowledge  of  their  strength 
and  age.  and  have  shown  the  way  in  which  they  drew  back  into 
their  historic  abodes.  The  Neutrals  seemed  to  have  little  to 
dread,  and  yet  at  last  withdrew  their  outlying  villages  in  New 
York,  confining  themselves  to  their  territory  between  Niagara 
and    Detroit. 

These  populous  nations  quickly  attracted  the  attention  of  both 
missionaries  and  traders.  Father  Joseph  le  Caron  went  to  the 
Hurons  in  [615,  with  12  French  traders.     Champlain  found  him 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  1/7 

there,  and  he  remained  during  his  Iroquois  expedition.  The  fol- 
lowing winter  he  visited  the  Petuns,  or  Tionontaties.  He  was  a 
Recollect  and  returned  to  Quebec  with  Champlain  in  loio. 
Father  William  Poulain.  another  Recollect,  was  a  prisoner  to 
the  Iroquois  for  a  short  time  in  1621,  but  was  exchanged.  He 
took  the  opportunity  of  teaching  some  Iroquois  prisoners,  taken 
by  his  friends,  hoping  some  day  to  visit  them,  and  made  a  brief 
visit  to  the  Hurons  in  1622.  In  1623  Father  Nicholas  Viel  and 
Le  Caron.  with  Brother  Gabriel  Sagard,  were  there  for  a  few 
months.  Yiel  remaining  for  nearly  two  years.  L)e  la  Roche 
Daillon.  another  Recollect,  was  there  in  1626,  going  thence  to  the 
Xeutral  nation,  of  whom  he  gave  many  particulars.  He  was 
the  companion  of  Father  Jean  de  Brebeuf  and  of  Father  Anne 
de  Xouvee,  the  Jesuits,  when  they  went  to  the  Hurons  that  year. 
In  1628  Brebeuf  was  there  alone,  and  was  ordered  to  Quebec  in 
1629.  The  English  occupation  hindered  missionary  work,  but 
linguistic  studies  were  maintained.  Brebeuf.  Daniel  and  Davost 
went  to  the  Hurons  in  1634.  After  this  we  have  those  graphic 
and  thrilling  relations  of  missionary  experience  among  savages, 
which  have  stirred  the  hearts  of  men  ever  since  and  have  yielded 
such  treasures  to  the  student  of  aboriginal  life.  Without  fol- 
lowing this  work  in  detail  among  a  people  lying  outside  our 
borders,  it  seems  proper  to  give  this  brief  introduction  to  what 
at  last  became  an  important  factor  in  New  York  history. 

Daillon  went  to  the  Neutrals  in  (  October  [626,  and  may  have 
visited  New  York.  Ik-  was  at  a  village  called  Ounontisaston, 
when  "  ten  men  of  the  last  village,  called  Ouaroronon,  one  day's 
journey  from  the  [roquois,  their  relatives  and  friends,"  called 
and  invited  him  there.  They  went  off,  but  returned  and  plun- 
dered him.  This  seems  to  refer  to  the  Ouenrohronon,  A  Separate 
People,  rather  than  town,  who  afterward  rled  to  the  Hurons. 

With  the  expulsion  of  the  Mahicans  and  the  sale  of  their  lands 
the  Iroquois  trade  had  a  new  impetus.  The  Dutch  had  learned 
to  make  wampum  by  improved  methods,  having  used  it  from  the 
tir^t.  and  the  [roquois  bought  large  quantities.  Thev  sold  guns 
at    a   great    profit,    for   the    Mohawks    were   greedy    of   these    and 


178  NEW    YORK    STATE   MUSEUM 

soon  became  excellent  "marksmen.  This  became  the  real  foun- 
dation of  their  great  power,  though  they  were  good  warriors 
before. 

A  Dutch  document  of  1646  says  of  this  new  feature  that  "  they 
have  now  achieved  many  profitable  forays  where  before  they  had 
but  little  advantage ;  this  caused  them  also  to  be  respected  by 
the  surrounding  Indians  even  as  far  as  the  Sea  coast,  who  must 
generally  pay  them  tribute,  whereas,  on  the  contrary,  they  were 
formerly  obliged  to  contribute  to  these." 

The  war  with  the  Canadian  Indians  still  continued.  When 
some  missionaries  were  making  their  first  ascent  of  the  St  Law- 
rence in  1632,  they  found  as  low  down  as  Tadoussac  a  party 
which  had  returned  with  nine  Iroquois  prisoners,  and  their  tor- 
tures were  graphically  described.  One  strong  and  courageous 
chief  sang  during  his  tortures  at  Quebec.  "  When  they  came  to 
tell  him  he  must  die,  he  said,  as  if  very  glad,  '  Well,  I  am  satis- 
fied. I  have  taken  many  Montagnards ;  my  friends  will  take 
more  of  them,  and  will  well  avenge  my  death.'  ' 

Though  the  French  had  killed  many  Iroquois,  they  first  retal- 
iated in  1633,  when  they  killed  two  Frenchmen  and  wounded 
four  more.  In  the  same  year  30  or  40  Iroquois  boarded  a  French 
shallop,  but  withdrew  when  aid  came. 

The  next  year  the  Senecas  defeated  the  Hurons  in  the  spring, 
and  the  latter  promptly  made  peace  with  them  and  hoped  to  do 
so  with  the  other  four  nations.  Negotiations  were  in  progress 
the  following  year,  but  an  account  in  1636  shows  the  independent 
character  of  the  several  nations.  A  young  Seneca  did  not  favor 
this  peace,  and  married  among  the  Onondagas  that  he  might  have 
liberty  to  continue  in  the  field.  He  was  taken  prisoner  with  seven 
others,  while  fishing  in  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  story  of  his  death 
is  of  the  most  tragic  character,  bringing  out  some  curious  fea- 
tures of  aboriginal  life.  After  his  first  torture  he  was  treated 
most  tenderly,  was  handsomely  dressed  and  presided  at  his  own 
farewell  feast,  before  the  final  and  terrible  scene.  The  Iroquois 
sometimes  treated  their  own  captives  much  like  this,  but  usually 
subjected  them  to  every  indignity  from  the  outset. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  1 79 

It  was  iii  December  1634  that  A  rent  Van  Curler  made  a  trip 
from  Fort  Orange  to  Oneida,  passing  through  all  the  Mohawk 
towns,  then  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  There  were  four 
castles  and  some  villages,  the  first  of  which  he  reached  on  the 
morning  of  the  third  day.  These  were  Onekagoncka,  Canowa- 
rode,  Senatsycrosy,  Xetdashet,  Canagere,  Sohanidisse,  Osguage, 
Cawaoge,  and  Tenotoge.  His  itinerary  is  of  interest,  and  it  is 
the  earliest  we  have  of  that  part  of  New  York.  He  left  the 
Mohawk  at  the  last  castle,  taking  the  usual  direct  trail  over  the 
hills  to  Oneida,  then  on  the  upper  waters  of  Oneida  creek.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  most  trails  are  not  very  old,  changing 
as  the  towns  changed  place.  At  Oneida  he  considered  himself 
in  the  Seneca  country,  but  met  a  deputation  of  Onondagas  there, 
being  the  first  mention  of  these  two  nations  by  name.  In  an 
Oneida  speech  or  song  which  he  recorded,  the  names  of  all  the 
upper  Iroquois  may  be  seen.  He  returned  the  same  way  in 
January  1635. 

In  the  Relation  of  1635  the  sedentary  nations  are  named,  and 
it  is  added,  "  The  Hurons  are  the  friends  of  all  these  peoples, 
except  the  Sonontoerrhonons,  Onontaerrhonons,  Oiiioenrhonons, 
Onoiochrhonons,  and  Agnierrhonons,  all  of  whom  wre  compre- 
hend under  the  name  of  Iroquois."  The  third  of  these  were  the 
Cayugas,  whose  early  name  is  elsewhere  properly  Oniouenh- 
ronons.  In  a  list  of  1639  tne  Konkhandeenhronon  erroneously 
come  between  the  Onondagas  and  Cayugas.  This  list  of  sed- 
entary nations  is  larger  than  the  first  and  some  are  of  another 
family. 

In  1635  tnc  Hurons  kept  some  Iroquois  prisoners  to  treat  for 
peace,  but  there  came  a  report  that  the  Little  Nation  of  the  Algon- 
quins  had  been  defeated  by  the  Iroquois,  who  took  some  pris- 
oners. This  destroyed  plans  for  peace.  The  next  year  the 
Little  Nation  burned  some  Iroquois  prisoners,  and  asked  the 
Hurons  to  join  them  in  the  war.  An  Algonquin  war  party  also 
returned  to  Tadoussac,  Aug.  10,  with  28  prisoners  and  scalps, 
including  men,  women  and  children,  and  efforts  for  peace  were 
fruitless. 


l8o  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

At  this  time  Brebeuf  estimated  the  Huron s  at  20  villages  and 
30,000  people.  His  means  of  judging  were  good.  Champlain 
reported  18  villages  and  10,000  adults,  about  the  same  population, 
though  they  had  suffered  greatly  by  war. 

Meanwhile  the  Iroquois  were  making  their  power  felt,  buying 
guns  and  becoming  excellent  marksmen.  A  little  later  the  Mo- 
hawks had  400  men  carrying  guns,  which  few  of  their  enemies 
could  procure.  The  cry  that  Mohawks  were  near  always  created 
a  panic  among  Xew  England  Indians,  and  they  were  equally 
dreaded  by  others.     Colden  said,  much  later : 

I  have  been  told  by  Old  Men  in  New  England,  who  remem- 
bred  the  Time  when  the  Mohawks  made  War  on  their  Indians, 
that  as  soon  as  a  single  Mohawk  was  discovered  in  the  Country, 
their  Indians  raised  a  Cry  from  Hill  to  Hill,  A  Mohawk !  A 
Mohawk!  upon  which  they  all  fled  like  Sheep  before  Wolves 
without  attempting  to  make  the  least  Resistance,  whatever  the 
Odds  were  on  their  Side. 

When  the  Pequot  chief  Sassacus  fled  in  1637,  he  sought  refuge 
in  their  country,  but  was  surprised  and  slain  by  one  of  their  bands. 
One  of  the  charges  against  Miantonimo,  in  1643,  was  that  he  had 
hired  the  Mohawks  to  fight  against  the  New  England  colonists, 
and  that  they  were  within  a  day's  journey,  awaiting  his  people. 
This  was  unfounded.  They  often  fought  against  the  Indians  of 
New  England,  but  seldom  molested  the  colonists.  They  also  made 
inroads  on  the  wampum-makers,  as  some  Indians  of  the  sea- 
shore were  often  called,  and  these  became  tributary.  It  should 
be  remembered  that  all  this  was  after  the  coming  of  the  whites. 
Their  great  power  was  within  historic  times. 

The  Iroquois  canoes  were  of  elm  bark,  and  of  clumsier  con- 
struction than  the  Canadian  birch  canoes,  being  easily  known  at 
a  distance.  \\  lien  abandoned  they  were  sometimes  useful  to 
others,  and  thus  a  young  Indian  gave  the  French  a  great  alarm 
in  1637.  It  is  noticeable  how  generally  successful  the  Canadian 
Indians  were  in  canoe  tights,  perhaps  a  result  of  better  boats  and 
greater  nautical  skill.  In  this  year,  in  such  a  contest  between 
the  froquois  and  the  nation  of  Iroquet.  13  of  the  former  were  cap- 
tured.    On  the  other  hand  500  Iroquois  held  Lake  St  Peter  and 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  l8l 

captured  30  Hurons.  A  band  of  150  Iroquois  was  also  near  the 
French  settlements,  making  their  presence  known.  "  This  they 
knew  from  the  little  sticks  attached  to  a  tree,  to  show  who  they 
were  and  how  many." 

The  older  Hurons  now  wished  peace,  but  some  young  warriors 
began  war  against  the  Senecas.  It  meant  ruin,  but  it  was  resolved 
to  support  them.  It  was  then  that  the  Ouenrohronons,  a  border 
tribe  of  the  Neutrals,  sought  refuge  with  the  Hurons  and  were 
hospitably  received.  They  seem  to  have  lived  in  Xew  York  and 
suffered  much  in  their  removal,  the  French  estimating  their  jour- 
ney at  240  miles. 

In  1639,  a  party  led  by  Oronkouaia,  an  Oneida  chief,  was 
defeated  by  the  Hurons,  who  killed  nearly  a  score.  The  leader 
was  tortured  fearfully,  and  his  hand  was  thrown  into  the  house 
of  the  Jesuits,  with  insolent  words,  they  having  baptized  him. 
This  war  involved  the  Algonquins,  who  feared  the  presence  of 
the  Iroquois  everywhere  and  gave  the  French  a  thousand 
alarms. 

In  1640  Brebeuf  and  Chaumonot  visited  the  Neutral  country 
but  not  Xew  York,  their  outposts  being  mostly  withdrawn. 
Their  strength  was  then  estimated  at  12,000  people  in  40  villages. 
Parkman  thought  that  "  they,  and  not  the  Eries,  were  the  Kah- 
kwahs  of  Seneca  tradition."  The  Hurons  would  allow  neither 
these  nor  the  Petuns  to  pass  their  country  to  trade  with  the 
French,  and  the  Neutrals  were  too  poor  boatmen  to  brave  the 
waves  of  Lake  Ontario. 

Mr  O.  H.  Marshall  also  thought  the  Kahkwahs  and  Neutrals 
the  same.  On  Coronelli's  map  of  1688  a  village  was  placed  near 
the  site  of  Buffalo  called  Kakouagoga,  A  Nation  destroyed,  and 
Eighteen  Mile  creek  is  called  by  the  Senecas  Gah-gwah-geh, 
Residence  of  the  Kahkwahs.  This  wras  probably  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  Neutrals,  and  Gallatin  gives  kahquahgoh  as  the 
Seneca  word  for  south,  so  that  the  name  might  refer  to  the 
nation,  or  position,  or  both.  The  Senecas  told  Schoolcraft  that 
they  destroyed  the  Kahkwahs  at  this  creek  in  1755,  and  he 
thought  100  years  should  be  deducted  from  this.     He  also  gave 


l82  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Governor  Blacksnake's  well  known  story.  The  Kahkwahs  chal- 
lenged the  Senecas  to  athletic  contests,  and  were  beaten  with 
sanguinary  results.  Mortified  and  angry,  they  went  home  and 
were  soon  on  the  warpath.  Learning  their  purpose,  the  Senecas 
went  forth  to  meet  them,  and  after  a  long  and  hard  battle  were 
victorious. 

David  Cusick  gave  the  common  Iroquois  belief  when  he  said : 
"About  this  time  the  Kanneastokaroneah  or  Erians  sprung  from 
the  Senecas,  and  became  numerous  and  powerful  nation,  occupy- 
ing the  country  lying  between  the  Genesee  and  Niagara  rivers." 

This  name  is  quite  different  from  Kahkwah ;  but,  while  Erie 
means  a  cat,  kahkwah  is  an  eye  swelled  like  a  cat's.  Another 
identification  has  been  suggested  by  the  traditional  overthrow  of 
the  Squawkie  Indians.  David  Cusick  also  gave  the  primitive 
name  of  Lake  Erie  as  Kau-ha-gwa-rah-ka,  correctly  interpreted 
as  a  cap,  and  this  by  contraction  resembles  the  word  in  question. 
However  this  may  be,  it  seems  reasonable  to  make  Eighteen 
Alile  creek  the  boundary  between  the  Eries  and  Neutrals.  In  the 
Relation  of  1641  we  are  told  that  of  the  Neutral  towns  "  there  are 
three  or  four  on  the  eastern  side  [of  Niagara  river],  extending 
from  east  to  west  toward  the  Eries  or  Cat  Nation."  These  may 
have  remained  awhile  longer. 

In  1640  the  Iroquois  were  enraged  by  a  French  collision,  and 
proclaimed  that  the  Hurons  and  French  should  be  treated  alike. 
The  Mohawks  captured  two  Frenchmen  and  took  them  home  in 
triumph,  as  living  evidences  that  they  could  cope  with  the 
whites.  Some  of  the  upper  Iroquois  delivered  them  that  they 
might  become  messengers  of  peace,  and  came  to  Three  Rivers 
with  the  captives,  June  15,  1641,  with  20  well  armed  canoes. 
They  wished  peace  with  the  French,  but  plundered  four  Algon- 
quin canoes  in  their  sight,  having  determined  to  exterminate  the 
Algonquins  and  Montagnais.  They  also  proposed  a  French 
settlement  in  the  Mohawk  country,  but  negotiations  failed,  and 
they  at  once  became  hostile,  so  sudden  were  their  changes.  One 
party  destroyed  five  Huron  canoes  a  little  farther  west,  killing 
or  capturing  those  on   board.     So  great    was  their  rage,  so  per- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  183 

severing  their  hostility,  that  they  sought  out  and  destroyed  an 
Algonquin  camp  in  a  remote  northern  wilderness,  in  the  depth 
of  winter,  treating  their  prisoners  with  horrible  cruelty.  A  Huron 
village  was  also  destroyed  that  year. 

The  site  of  Montreal  was  selected  in  1641,  near  the  spot 
where  Hochelaga  had  stood  a  century  before.  The  Relation  of 
1646  says :  "  This  island  is  in  some  fashion  the  frontier  of  the 
Annierronnons  Iroquois."  Governor  Montmagny  and  Sieur  Mai- 
son-neuve  went  there  May  17,  1642,  to  take  possession  of  the 
island  and  commence  the  first  buildings  with  solemn  religious 
services  and  a  feast.  Two  Indians  present  stood  on  the  moun- 
tain top,  as  before  mentioned,  where  their  ancestors  had  lived. 
The  grandsire  of  one  had  cultivated  the  land  on  which  they  stood. 
They  said :  "  The  Hurons,  who  were  then  our  neighbors,  chased 
our  ancestors  from  this  country ;  some  retired  toward  the  land 
of  the  Abnaquiois,  the  others  to  the  land  of  the  Iroquois,  and  one 
part  turned  to  the  Hurons  themselves,  united  with  them,  and 
behold  the  island  was  rendered  almost  a  desert."  This  has  been 
variously  explained.  Mr  Shea  proposed  interchanging  Hurons 
and  Iroquois,  making  the  latter  the  aggressors,  but  this  is  no  real 
improvement.  It  is  rather  probable  that,  after  the  withdrawal 
of  the  Iroquois  to  New  York,  the  Hurons  did  attack  the  Algon- 
quins  who  had  dwelt  by  them,  and  who  remained  behind.  Tra- 
ditionally the  Hurons  did  receive  a  new  nation  about  that  time, 
and  the  Iroquois  always  welcomed  accessions  to  their  numbers. 
Among  these  Algonquins  who  went  to  their  land,  may  have  been 
many  old  friends. 

It  was  in  1641  that  Governor  Montmagny  was  called  from  his 
name,  Onontio,  or  Great  Mountain,  afterward  the  title  of  Can- 
adian governors.  In  1642  he  commenced  forts  on  the  Sorel,  or 
River  of  the  Iroquois,  to  check  their  war  parties,  wTiich  seemed 
everywhere  and  were  well  supplied  with  guns  by  the  Dutch. 
Charlevoix  said  that  Montmagny  complained  of  this  to  the  Dutch 
governor,  who  replied  in  a  courteous  but  vague  way.  In  this 
year  Father  Isaac  Jogues  was  taken  by  the  Mohawks,  with  two 
French  companions,  while  on  the  St  Lawrence  with  a  party  of 


184  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Hurons,  traveling-  in  12  canoes.  The  French  might  have  escaped, 
but  Jogues  would  not  leave  his  Huron  friends,  nor  would  his 
French  comrades  desert  him.  In  hastening  to  his  aid  William 
Couture  killed  a  great  Indian  chief.  They  were  carried 
to  the  Mohawk  towns,  suffering  greatly  there  and  on  the 
way. 

The  same  year  11  Huron  canoes  were  coming  down  to  Three 
Rivers  with  furs,  when  they  were  attacked  by  the  Iroquois  on 
the  Ottawa  river,  150  miles  above  Montreal.  While  building 
their  new  fort  on  the  River  of  the  Iroquois,  the  French  were  sud- 
denly assailed  by  300  of  that  people,  and  were  in  great  danger  of 
being  cut  to  pieces.  Recovering  from  their  surprise,  they 
repulsed  the  attack,  but  the  enemy  retreated  in  good  order. 

While  the  Mohawks  held  the  St  Lawrence  and  waylaid  parties 
on  the  Ottawa,  other  bands  were  active  in  the  Huron  country 
all  the  time,  but  with  some  reverses.  The  bold  Huron  chief, 
Ahatsisteari,  not  only  overcame  a  party  larger  than  his  own,  but 
afterward  attacked  and  destroyed  a  fleet  of  great  Iroquois  canoes 
by  his  own  skill  and  daring.  Some  he  overturned,  killing  or 
capturing  their  crews  in  the  water. 

That  year  Van  Curler  again  visited  some  of  the  Mohawk  towns, 
where  he  saw  Jogues  and  his  two  companions.  His  account  of 
their  fears  differs  from  that  of  the  Relations.  He  wrote  also  as 
though  there  were  then  no  treaty  between  the  Iroquois  and 
Dutch,  though  good  friends.  He  said,  "  I  brought  presents 
there  and  asked  that  we  should  live  as  good  neighbors,  and  that 
they  should  do  no  harm  to  either  the  colonists  or  their 
cattle." 

Rene  Goupil  was  killed  soon  after  among  the  Mohawks  and 
the  other  captives  suffered  much.  Jogues  escaped  in  104^  by 
the  aid  of  the  Dutch,  and  went  to  Europe  for  a  while.  That 
spring  the  Mohawks  went  to  collect  tribute  toward  the  seashore 
and  took  him  along  to  show  him  to  some  of  these  people.  This 
may  help  to  explain  a  statement  in  early  Dutch  writers,  regarding 
a  visit  to  W\\  Amsterdam  or  vicinity  that  year,  of  So  Maliicans 
from   near   Fort   Orange,  armed   with   guns,    who   came   to   levy 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  185 

tribute  on  the  Indians  along  the  lower  Hudson.  The  Mahicans 
had  left  Albany  before  this  and  all  the  circumstances  show  a 
mistake  in  the  name.  The  Indians  left  their  homes  for  fear  of 
these  Mohawks,  for  such  they  clearly  were,  sought  refuge  with 
the  Dutch  and  were  massacred  by  them.  The  Mohawks  were 
not  responsible  for  this.  Ruttenber  thought  these  visitors 
were  Mahicans,  all  agreeing  in  the  name,  but  the  Dutch 
did  not  see  them,  and  the  mere  name  was  liable  to  be  mis- 
taken. 

One  account  by  Jogties  is  of  the  Mohawk  sacrifice  to 
Aireskoi,  where  a  woman  was  burned,  or  rather  roasted  and 
eaten.  In  his  amiable  desire  to  exalt  the  Iroquois  character, 
Mr  Hale  said  that  "  the  Iroquois  never  burnt  women  at  the 
stake,"  but  sex  made  no  difference  in  this,  as  many  incidents 
show. 

Several  early  writers  describe  this  particular  Mohawk  offering, 
almost  in  the  words  of  Jogues,  but  without  reference  to  him. 
Mourning  their  remissness  in  not  eating  some  captives  in  honor 
of  Aireskoi,  they  had  substituted  bears  at  their  feast,  promising 
to  do  better  in  the  future,  and  women  were  their  next  prisoners. 
One  was  selected  as  a  victim  : 

When  this  woman  was  tortured,  at  every  burn,  which  they 
caused  by  applying  lighted  torches  to  her  body,  an  old  man,  in 
a  loud  voice,  exclaimed,  "  Demon  Aireskoi !  we  offer  thee  this 
victim,  whom  we  burn  for  thee,  that  thou  mayest  be  filled  with 
her  flesh,  and  render  us  ever  anew  victorious  over  our  enemies." 
Her  body  was  cut  up,  sent  to  the  various  villages  and  de- 
voured. 

The  Relation  of  1643  divides  the  Iroquois  into  Senecas  and 
Mohawks,  and  says  they  were  once  inferior  to  the  Ilurons,  but 
now  surpassed  them  in  numbers  and  strength,  the  Mohawks 
alone  having  300  guns,  well  used  by  them.  The  Iroquois  cap- 
tured 23  Hurons  and  13  canoes  that  year  near  Montreal  and 
attacked  the  French.  Eight  Algonquin s  were  taken  near  Three 
Rivers  and  a  war  party  was  defeated  with  much  loss.  In  this 
party  was  Pieskaret,  a  brave  and  high-minded  Algonquin  chief, 
of  whom  many  stories  are  told. 


1 86  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Chapter  7 

Change  in  Iroquois  warfare.  Dread  of  their  coming.  Ten  parties.  Bres- 
sani  captured.  Iroquois  tortures.  Pieskaret's  success.  Prospects  of 
peace.  Kiotsaeton.  Oneidas  adopt  Mohawks.  Iroquois  success.  Dutch 
treaty  of  1645.  French  and  Mohawk  treaty  of  1646.  Embassy  and 
death  of  Jogues.  Pieskaret  killed.  His  exploits.  French  ask  aid  of 
Massachusetts.  Capture  of  Annenraes  by  Hurons  and  his  escape.  Peace 
negotiations  with  Onondagas.  Skandawati's  death.  Eries.  Huron 
towns  destroyed.  Death  of  missionaries.  Huron  towns  abandoned  and 
one  adopted  by  Senecas.  Overthrow  of  Petuns  and  death  of  Gamier. 
Neutrals  destroyed.     Huron  treachery.    Iroquois  extend  their  conquests. 

The  Iroquois  now  changed  the  conduct  of  the  war.  Instead 
of  sending  a  few  large  parties  at  certain  periods,  they  kept  small 
parties  coming  and  going  all  the  time,  so  that  there  was  never  any 
safety  above  Three  Rivers.  One  of  these  bands  brought  a  letter 
from  Jogues,  but  it  was  fired  on  and  they  were  much  enraged  at 
him.  The  St  Lawrence  and  Ottawa  were  both  closed  by  10 
Iroquois  bands  in  the  spring  of  1644,  and  one  of  these  captured 
Father  Bressani,  who  was  afterward  ransomed  by  the  Dutch. 

The  Hurons  were  faring  badly.  One  of  their  frontier  towns 
had  been  destroyed  in  the  fall  of  1642,  and  a  party  of  100,  return- 
ing from  Montreal,  lost  all  their  goods  and  20  men  in  a  fight 
on  the  way.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Hurons  took  three  of  their 
enemies  in  1644,  but  the  Algonquins  abandoned  both  their  homes 
and  hunting  grounds.  The  fear  of  the  Iroquois  was  everywhere, 
so  swift  were  their  movements.  They  came  like  foxes,  attacked 
like  lions,  and  fled  like  birds.  About  this  time  Father  Vimont 
said  :  "  I  would  as  soon  be  besieged  by  hobgoblins  as  by  the  Iro- 
quois. The  one  is  scarcely  more  visible  than  the  other.  When 
they  are  afar  off,  one  believes  that  they  are  at  our  doors;  when 
they  throw  themselves  upon  their  prey,  one  imagines  that  they 
are  in   their  own   land." 

Two  of  the  Iroquois  parties  mentioned  went  to  the  Sattlt  Chau- 
diere,  a  place  noted  for  Iroquois  ambuscades  and  Huron  defeats. 
At  this  spot  the  Indians  used  to  collect  offerings  in  a  chaudiere, 
or  kettle,  casting  it  and  it ^  contents  into  the  water  to  procure  a 
safe  journey.  The  third  went  to  the  foot  of  the  Long  Sault  of 
tin    Ottawa,  and   t lie   fourth   lay  in   wait  above   Montreal.     The 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  187 

fifth  band  of  80  warriors  lay  hidden  on  the  island  of  Montreal 
for  three  days,  and  this  was  attacked  by  the  French.  The  latter 
were  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  five  men,  two  of  whom  were  tor- 
tured and  burned.  The  sixth  band  of  40  men  went  toward  the 
River  of  the  Prairies,  capturing  a  party  of  Algonquins,  most  of 
whom  were  burned  in  the  Iroquois  villages.  The  seventh  took 
Father  Bressani  and  some  Hurons.  In  this  band  were  some 
naturalized  Hurons  and  Algonquins.  The  eighth  met  this  one 
as  it  returned.  The  ninth  party  was  on  the  River  of  the  Iroquois, 
and  the  tenth  went  against  the  Hurons.  Other  small  parties 
were  out  and  the  ground  was  well  covered. 

Bressani's  captors  sailed  two  days  homeward,  when  they  met 
a  party  who  maltreated  the  prisoners.  They  sailed  two  days 
more,  traversed  the  woods  for  six  days,  embarked  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain  and  followed  it  for  eight  days  in  a  leisurely  way.  Four 
days  later  they  came  to  a  fishery  on  the  Hudson,  where  400  Iro- 
quois were  encamped.  They  stopped  there  nearly  a  month,  and 
there  Bressani  ran  the  gauntlet  and  was  placed  on  the  usual  high 
scaffold,  where  he  had  to  dance  and  was  frequently  burned.  This 
scaffold  torture  may  have  been  peculiar  to  the  Iroquois,  for  on 
this  platform  they  used  a  slow  fire,  torches,  hot  irons,  and  various 
means  of  torture,  prolonging  the  pain  as  much  as  they  could. 
He  afterward  suffered  much  in  two  Mohawk  villages,  but  his  life 
was  spared  and  he  was  given  to  a  woman  whose  grandfather  the 
Hurons  had  killed.  She  thought  him  of  little  use,  and  sent  him 
to  the  Dutch  to  see  what  they  would  give  for  him.  The  good 
Father  did  not  tell  how  low  was  his  price,  but  the  Dutch  gave 
more  than  had  been  expected  and  clothed  him  well. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  three  Iroquois  prisoners  were  taken 
in  1644.  The  Algonquins  readily  gave  theirs  to  the  French,  but 
the  Hurons  determined  to  take  their  two  home,  promising  not 
to  burn  them,  as  there  were  hopes  of  peace.  That  summer  the 
Iroquois  destroyed  a  party  of  100  Algonquins. 

Pieskaret  made  one  of  his  successful  expeditions  in  1645.  With 
six  Algonquins  he  killed  11  Iroquois,  brought  in  two  prisoners 
and  returned  in  triumph.     At  the  end  of  his  speech  he  said :    "  I 


l88  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

saw,  I  killed,  I  took  captive,  I  brought  home ;  behold  them  pres- 
ent. I  enter  into  your  thoughts ;  they  are  good."  Such  a  sen- 
tentious speech  would  have  been  famous  in  Greece  or  Rome. 
He  gave  the  prisoners  to  the  governor,  and  the  Iroquois  were 
surprised  at  being  delivered  from  death. 

These  were  retained  at  Three  Rivers,  and  Tokhrahenehiaron, 
who  had  been  held  as  a  prisoner  through  the  winter,  was  sent  to 
the  Mohawks  to  see  if  they  wished  peace.  July  5,  1645,  three 
Mohawk  chiefs  came  to  Three  Rivers  with  William  Couture, 
who  had  been  captured  with  Jogues  and  who  now  served  as  inter- 
preter. The  principal  chief  was  Kiotsaeton,  who  brought  17 
wampum  belts.  A  peace  council  was  held  July  12,  and  this  has 
been  minutely  described.  Peace  was  agreed  on,  and  the  deputies 
went  home.  Other  deputies  were  sent  to  Canada  with  18  belts, 
and  another  council  was  held,  Sep.  17  to  20.  Peace  was  con- 
cluded, the  Iroquois  saying  that  the  dead  should  not  be  now 
avenged,  for  "  a  living  man  is  worth  much  more  than  many  dead." 

In  this  lively  account  one  speech  in  the  first  council  may  be 
noted.  Kiotsaeton  wished  the  French  to  eat  with  the  Mohawks 
in  their  own  land,  telling  of  its  many  good  things  and  adding, 
"  Leave  these  stinking  pigs  which  run  around  your  habitations, 
which  eat  nothing  but  what  is  filthy,  and  come  and  eat  of  good 
victuals  with  us." 

In  the  second  council  there  was  a  curious  reference  to  the 
Oneidas,  who  were  bitter  enemies  of  the  Hurons : 

A  village  named  Ononjote',  incensed  to  the  last  degree  against 
the  Hurons,  because  these  people  in  a  combat  killed  almost  all 
the  men  of  this  village,  which  was  constrained  to  send  to  ask 
the  Iroquois,  named  Agnerronons,  with  whom  they  had  made 
peace,  for  some  men  to  be  married  to  the  girls  and  women  who 
had  remained  without  husbands,  in  order  that  the  nation  should 
not  perish.    This  is  why  the  Iroquois  name  this  village  their  child. 

A  striking  scene  ended  this  important  council : 

This  discourse  finished,  the  Iroquois  set  himself  to  sing  and 
dance,  he  took  a  Frenchman  on  one  side,  an  Algonquin  and 
Huron  on  the  other,  and  holding  them  embraced  with  his  arms, 
they  danced  in  cadence,  and  sang  with  a  strong  voice  a  song  of 
peace. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  189 

The  truce  was  kept  by  the  Mohawks,  who  hunted  freely  with 
the  Algonquins  the  following  winter,  to  the  astonishment  of 
many.  "  Those  who  know  the  antipathies  of  these  nations  and 
their  frightful  inclinations  for  revenge,  think  that  they  see  so 
many  miracles  when  they  see  a  friendly  feeling  between  an 
Algonquin  and  an  Iroquois.'"  It  did  not  affect  the  other  four 
nations.  Two  bands  of  Hurons  fell  into  their  hands  while  going 
to  trade  with  the  French,  and  in  1645  they  captured  three  other 
fleets.  Early  in  the  spring  of  that  year  an  Iroquois  party 
approached  a  Huron  village  and  captured  a  troop  of  women 
going  out  to  their  morning  work.  So  quickly  were  they  placed 
in  their  canoes  that  200  armed  Hurons  were  unable  to  rescue 
them. 

Toward  the  end  of  that  summer  some  Huron  and  Iroquois 
warriors  met  in  the  forest,  the  former  at  first  having  the  advan- 
tage. A  parley  followed,  and,  when  the  fight  was  resumed,  the 
Hurons  were  beaten.  A  notable  incident  happened  at  a  large 
Huron  town  soon  after.  An  attack  was  feared  and  the  people 
were  prepared,  young  men  being  placed  in  the  sentry  boxes  on 
the  wall.  They  sang  war  songs  loudly  most  of  the  night,  but  at 
last  fell  asleep.  Some  Iroquois  warriors  had  crept  to  the  base 
of  the  wall,  and.  when  all  was  still,  one  climbed  to  the  tower. 
Split  the  head  of  one  sentinel  and  threw  the  other  down,  where 
his  comrades  scalped  him,  making  off  so  quickly  that  nothing 
could  be  done.  Then  Hurons  went  to  the  largest  Seneca  town. 
pierced  one  of  the  great  cabins,  choosing,  killing  and  scalping 
each  his  man,  and  escaping  from  hundreds  in  swift  pursuit. 

There  were  other  later  encounters;  but  the  Mohawks  warned 
all  that  there  was  peace  with  them  alone,  and  in  presence  of 
their  ambassadors  several  Algonquin  tribes  made  peace  with  the 
Dutch  at  New  Amsterdam.  Aug.  30.  1045.  Van  der  Donck  thus 
mentioned  their  first  treaty  with  the  Dutch  that  year: 

In  the  year  1645,  we  were  employed  with  the  officers  and  rulers 
of  the  colony  of  Rensselaerwyck  in  negotiating  a  treaty  of  peace 
with  the  Maquas,  who  then  were  and  still  are  the  strongest  and 
fiercest  Indians  of  the  country;  whereat  the  Director  General 
William    Kieft,  on   the  one   part,   and  the   chiefs  of  the   Indian 


19°  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

nations  of  the  neighboring  country,  on  the  other  part,  attended. 
To  proceed  with  the  treaty,  the  citizens  of  Rensselaerwyck  pro- 
cured a  certain  Indian,  named  Agheroense,  to  attend  and  serve 
as  interpreter,  who  was  well  known  to  the  Christians,  having 
been  much  among  them. 

Kiotsaeton  and  six  other  Mohawk  deputies  came  to  Montreal, 
Feb.  22,  1646,  and  a  council  followed  at  Three  Rivers  May  7. 
Bourdon  and  Jogues  went  to  the  Mohawks  with  presents  and 
an  escort  May  16.  "  They  arrived  on  the  eve  of  S.  Sacrement 
at  the  end  of  a  lake  which  is  joined  to  the  great  lake  of  Cham- 
plain.  The  Indian  name  is  Andiatarocte',  which  is  to  say.  There 
where  the  lake  is  shut  in.  The  Father  named  it  the  lake  of 
S.  Sacrement."  Six  leagues  from  this  lake  they  crossed  the  Hud- 
son, there  called  Oiogue',  At  the  River,  and  soon  came  to  a  fishing 
place  named  Ossarague',  going  thence  to  Fort  Orange.  The  first 
Mohawk  village  was  reached  June  7,  and  was  then  called  Oneu- 
gioure',  formerly  Osserion.  Like  most  Indian  towns  it  had  other 
names. 

There  Jogues  met  some  Onondagas,  whose  towns  he  never 
reached.  He  made  them  a  present,  asking  that  the  French  might 
visit  their  land.  The  Mohawks  remonstrated.  They  were  the 
door  of  the  confederacy  and  the  council  fire  should  be  approached 
through  them.  He  held  to  his  point,  that  the  French  might  go 
to  Onondaga  in  any  one  of  three  ways,  and  gained  no  Mohawk 
favor  by  this. 

The  French  stayed  but  two  days,  but  Jogues  left  a  small  trunk 
behind  him,  hoping  to  return.  This  caused  new  suspicions,  as 
they  feared  it  might  hurt  them.  The  Mohawks  hastened  their 
departure,  as  the  other  nations  had  parties  out  against  the 
Hurons  and   they  might  be  molested. 

Sep.  24.  l(>4(>.  Father  Jogues  left  Three  Rivers  to  go  to  the 
Mohawks  for  the  last  time,  as  he  himself  thought.  A  young 
Frenchman  accompanied  him,  but  they  were  at  once  seized, 
Stripped  and  threatened  when  they  arrived  at  the  Mohawk  town, 
I  )ct.  17,  being  told  they  would  be  killed  next  day  but  not  burned. 
Tin-  Wolf  and  Turtle  clans  tried  to  save  them,  but  the  Bears 
had  decreed  their  death.     On  the  evening  of  the  18th  Jogues  was 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  191 

called  to  supper,  and,  as  he  entered  the  lodge  of  the  Bears,  a  man 
behind  the  door  killed  him  with  an  ax.  Thus  died  Ondessonk, 
whose  virtues  and  sufferings  have  called  forth  the  admiration  of 
all.  His  head  was  cut  off  and  placed  on  the  wall,  and  his  com- 
panion shared  the  same  fate  next  morning,  their  bodies  being 
cast -into  the  river.  A  fine  shrine,  near  Auriesville,  now  marks 
the  supposed  site  of  the  death  of  the  founder  of  the  Mission  of 
the  Martyrs.  Following  this  came  a  more  determined  war 
against  the  French. 

Simon  Pieskaret  was  one  of  the  first  victims,  being  treacher- 
ously slain  in  the  spring  of  1647,  before  he  knew  that  peace  was 
at  an  end.  He  was  the  noblest  and  most  renowned  Algonquin 
warrior  of  that  day.  Colden  called  him  an  Adirondack,  and  told 
some  stories  of  his  deeds.  He  went  with  four  others,  in  one 
canoe,  against  the  Iroquois.  Each  man  had  three  muskets,  loaded 
with  two  bullets  connected  by  a  small  chain.  In  Sorel  river  they 
met  five  Iroquois  canoes,  each  with  10  men.  The  Adirondacks 
pretended  despair  till  they  were  quite  near,  when  they  all  fired 
repeatedly  on  the  Iroquois  canoes,  sinking  every  one,  knocking 
the  swimming  Iroquois  on  the  head  or  taking  them  prisoners. 
This  seems  an  exaggeration  of  his  exploit  of  1645.  At  another 
time  he  went  to  an  Iroquois  village,  killing  some  one  three  nights 
following.  When  pursued,  he  kept  just  ahead  of  his  foes,  turning 
and  scalping  them  all  while  asleep  at  night. 

While  returning  in  1646  from  a  foray  17  Oneidas  encountered 
a  canoe  with  30  Huron  warriors,  and  all  disembarked.  The 
sticks  were  placed  as  usual  to  mark  each  man's  post  and  the  war 
whoop  was  given.  Both  parties  thought  the  other  superior  in 
force  and  both  took  flight,  the  sticks  remaining  when  the  war- 
riors were  gone.  An  escaping  prisoner  told  the  Hurons  of  their 
mistake  and  some  pursued  the  Oneidas,  taking  one  prisoner. 

Fort  Richelieu  was  burned  this  year,  and  there  were  many 
hostile  acts  in  1647.  Some  French  shallops  were  attacked,  and 
the  Iroquois  were  everywhere,  but  the  Mohawks  again  talked  of 
peace.  This  hardly  interrupted  hostilities,  and  an  encounter  took 
place  between  the  Hurons  and  Iroquois,  near  Three  Rivers,  in 


I92  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

which  the  latter  were  defeated  with  much  loss.  As  a  result,  the 
French  rejoiced  to  see  60  Huron  canoes  in  the  river,  laden  with 
furs,  though  the  Iroquois  were  troublesome.  About  this  time  the 
French  asked  Massachusetts  to  aid  them  against  the  Mohawks. 

Early  in  1647  an  Onondaga  band,  on  the  Huron  frontier,  was 
pursued  with  serious  loss.  One  of  the  captives  threw  himself  into 
a  great  kettle  of  boiling  water  to  escape  the  tortures  reserved  for 
some.  Annenraes,  a  noted  chief,  was  spared,  but  toward  spring 
lie  was  again  in  danger  and  was  aided  to  escape  by  the  Huron 
chiefs.  On  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Ontario  he  found  300 
Onondagas  making  canoes,  in  which  to  cross  to  avenge  his  death. 
There  were  already  800  Cayugas  and  Senecas  on  the  road  to  aid 
them.  The  Onondagas  gave  up  their  warlike  plans  and  returned 
home,  sending  a  peace  embassy  from  their  towns  to  the  Hurons. 
The  Senecas  continued  their  march  and  destroyed  a  town  of  the 
Aondironnons,  a  Xeutral  village  nearest  of  all  to  the  Hurons. 
The  Neutrals  did  not  resent  this  act,  for  which  the  Senecas  had 
some  excuse.  The  independent  character  of  each  of  the  Five 
Nations  appears  again.  The  Onondagas  treated  of  peace;  the 
Mohawks  and  Senecas  kept  the  field. 

In  the  spring  of  1647  the  Hurons  sent  deputies  to  the  Andastes 
dwelling  on  the  lower  Susquehanna  and  Delaware,  in  response 
to  an  offer  of  aid  made  by  them.  They  were  in  despair  and  asked 
these  kinsmen  to  hear  "  the  voice  of  their  dying  father  land." 
They  were  several  weeks  on  their  way,  arriving  early  in  June 
with  their  pathetic  tale: 

The  speech  that  Charles  Ondaaiondiont  made  at  his  arrival 
was  not  long.  He  told  them  that  he  came  from  the  land  of  the 
SouN,  where  war  and  the  terrors  of  the  enemy  had  laid  every- 
thing waste,  where  the  fields  were  covered  only  with  blood, 
where  the  cabins  were  filled  only  with  corpses,  and  that  there 
remained  to  them  no  life  except  what  was  needed  to  come  to  tell 
their  friends  that  they  might  have  pity  on  a  land  that  was  draw- 
ing to  its  end. 

The  Onondaga  proposals  gave  the  Hurons  some  hope,  but  the 

deputies    from    that    nation    found    a    people    divided    in    opinion. 
Several  councils  were  held  before  they  agreed  to  send  ambassa- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  193 

dors,  the  first  Hurons  to  go  there  in  that  way.  These  left  home 
Aug.  i,  1647,  and  were  in  Onondaga  20  days  later,  where  they 
were  warmly  received  and  feasted  for  a  month.  A  second  Onon- 
daga embassy  returned  with  them,  headed  by  Skandawat-i,  a 
noted  chief,  60  years  old.  Two  others  were  with  him  and  he 
brought  back  15  Huron  captives.  They  were  30  days  on  the 
way,  reaching  the  Hurons  Oct.  23.  At  this  time  the  Onon- 
dagas  and  Cayugas  favored  peace ;  the  Senecas  and  Mohawks 
opposed  it. 

In  January  1748  a  new  Huron  embassy  was  sent  with  one  of 
the  Onondagas,  two  remaining  as  hostages.  This  was  attacked 
by  the  Mohawks  and  some  Hurons  were  killed.  Early  in  April 
Skandawati  disappeared  and  was  found  dead  by  his  own  hand, 
lying  on  the  bed  of  cedar  boughs  which  he  had  prepared.  His 
companion  said: 

I  knew  that  he  would  do  a  thing  like  this;  that  which  hath 
cast  him  into  this  desperation  is  the  shame  which  he  had  in  seeing 
that  the  Sonnontoueronnons  and  Annieronnons  come  here  to 
massacre  you,  even  over  your  frontiers ;  for  though  they  are  your 
enemies  they  are  our  allies,  and  they  ought  to  have  shown  us 
this  respect,  that  having  come  here  on  an  embassy,  they  should 
defer  any  evil  stroke  till  after  our  return. 

In  one  of  their  attacks  near  St  Ignace,  the  Mohawks  killed  or 
captured  40  Hurons,  and  the  Senecas  over  30  in  another  place. 
Some  Huron  towns  were  abandoned.  In  a  hunting  party 
attacked  by  the  Senecas  was  one  of  the  Onondaga  hostages. 
They  forced  him  to  be  present  when  they  took  another  party, 
giving  him  one  of  the  prisoners.  He  demanded  to  be  sent  back 
to  the  Hurons,  being  an  ambassador,  saying  that  he  would  "  die 
with  them  sooner  than  to  appear  to  have  acted  as  their  enemy." 
He  was  allowed  to  return  with  his  captive. 

In  the  Relation  of  1648  is  the  first  circumstantial  mention  of 
the  Eries.  In  the  list  of  sedentary  nations  in  1635  they  appear 
as  the  Rhiierrhonons.  and  in  that  of  1639  as  the  Eriehronon. 
From  that  of  1648  we  may  infer  that  they  were  at  a  considerable 
distance   from   the    Iroquois,   and   probably   in   the   central   and 


194  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

southern  parts  of  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua  counties.  To 
their  towns  we  may  assign  the  Massawomekes,  so  much  dreaded 
in  early  days  in  Virginia.  In  speaking  of  Lake  Erie  the  Relation 
adds: 

This  lake,  named  Erie',  was  formerly  inhabited  on  its  southern 
coasts  by  certain  peoples  whom  we  call  the  nation  of  the  Cat; 
who  have  been  obliged  to  withdraw  inland,  in  order  to  get  away 
from  their  enemies,  who  are  more  toward  the  west.  These 
people  of  the  Cat  have  a  number  of  fixed  villages,  for  they  culti- 
vate the  ground,  and  are  of  the  same  language  as  our  Hurons. 

The  Andastes  went  to  Onondaga  to  plead  for  the  Hurons ;  but 
all  negotiations  failed,  and  their  downfall  came  rapidly  on,  all 
the  Iroquois  suddenly  turning  against  them  and  no  one  taking 
their  part.  In  July  1648,  Teanaustaye',  or  St  Joseph,  was  attacked 
and  taken,  with  another  frontier  village  included  in  the  same 
mission.  The  principal  town  had  400  families,  but  the  men  were 
mostly  away  at  the  time.  There  were  many  Christians  there, 
and,  while  these  were  assembled  for  worship,  there  was  a  sudden 
alarm  and  universal  terror.  Some  ran  to  fight  and  others  to  fly. 
Father  Antoine  Daniel  stood  where  the  peril  was  greatest,  encour- 
aging the  Hurons  and  baptizing  many.  The  assault  became 
more  furious  and  resistance  was  vain.  He  went  to  his  church 
with  his  flock,  going  forth  alone  to  meet  the  enemy  when  they 
came  on  with  savage  yells.  His  boldness  checked  them  but  for 
a  moment.  He  was  quickly  slain  and  the  place  destroyed,  700 
being  killed  or  captured,  mostly  women  and  children.  A  larger 
number  were  saved  by  flying  to  the  strong  house  of  the  Jesuits. 

A  terrible  blow  came  the  following  spring.  Unknown  to  the 
Hurons,  about  1000  Iroquois  had  left  home  in  the  autumn  of 
1648,  leisurely  hunting  through  the  winter  as  they  approached 
the  Huron  towns.  All  the  nations  were  represented  in  this 
army  and  most  had  firearms.  The  night  before  Mar.  16  they 
came  quietly  to  the  walls  of  Taenhatentaron,  or  St  Ignace,  where 
they  found  a  strong  stockade  and  a  deep  ditch.  A  careful  recon- 
naissance showed  one  place  weaker  than  the  rest,  and  they  broke 
through  this  so  secretly  and  quickly  that  they  were  masters  of 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  195 

the  town  before  the  people  awoke.  There  was  some  resistance, 
10  of  the  Iroquois  being  slain,  but  out  of  400  inhabitants  only 
three  escaped. 

This  was  at  daybreak.  At  sunrise  the  Iroquois  attacked  the 
mission  of  St  Louis,  a  fortified  town  a  league  away.  Most  of 
the  people  had  fled,  but  80  warriors  bravely  defended  the  place, 
killing  30  of  their  foes.  Axes  were  plied  against  the  stockade, 
a  breach  was  made,  the  Iroquois  rushed  in  and  the  defenders 
were  slain.  Having  burned  the  town,  the  Iroquois  returned  to 
St  Ignace  and  refreshed  themselves.  Then  they  reconnoitered 
the  fortified  French  mission  house,  intending  an  attack  with  200 
men,  but  were  deterred  by  its  strength.  A  party  of  300  Hurons 
intercepted  them  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  but  the  vanguard 
quickly  fled.  The  main  body  stood  firm  and  captured  30  Iro- 
quois, but  were  beaten  in  turn.  The  furious  combat  lasted  into 
the  night.  On  the  19th  the  enemy  had  disappeared,  but  terror 
and  desolation  remained. 

Brebeuf  and  Gabriel  Lalemant  were  taken  in  St  Louis,  stripped 
naked  and  carried  to  St  Ignace,  where  they  suffered  terribly. 
Brebeuf  had  red  hot  axes  hung  about  him,  some  telling  him  that 
they  did  this  out  of  kindness,  for  the  greater  his  sufferings  here 
the  greater  would  be  his  glory  hereafter,  and  indeed  his  fortitude 
made  a  lasting  impression  on  foes  and  friends.  Hot  water  was 
poured  on  both  in  derision  of  baptism.  This  torture  Brebeuf 
endured  for  three  hours  and  Lalemant  for  double  that  time. 
Some  Hurons  were  bound  and  burned  in  the  houses,  the  whole 
town   being   destroyed. 

Hope  was  lost  and  famine  followed.  The  Hurons  abandoned 
five  strong  towns.  One  town,  that  of  Scanonaenrat,  surrendered 
and  removed  to  the  Senecas,  where  it  long  had  a  separate  exist- 
ence. Many  families  went  to  the  neighboring  nations,  as  the 
Petuns,  Neutrals  and  Eries,  only  to  have  the  same  experience 
again.  Some  sought  the  islands  and  woods,  multitudes  perishing 
in  the  wilderness.  Part  determined  to  take  refuge  with  the 
French  at  Quebec.  The  missionaries  burned  their  house,  fol- 
lowed those  who  went  to  the  islands  and  the  Petuns,  and  the  land 


I96  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

was  abandoned.  There  the  Iroquois  had  full  and  unresisted 
range,  and  the  bravest  were  unnerved. 

The  Petun  or  Tobacco  nation,  otherwise  known  as  Tionontaties 
or  Mountaineers,  was  the  next  to  suffer.  In  November  1649  the 
Petuns  learned  with  joy  that  300  Iroquois  were  in  Canada,  unde- 
cided what  place  to  attack.  Those  of  the  town  called  St  Jean  by 
the  French,  Etharita  by  the  Petuns,  waited  for  them  several  days 
and  then,  fearing  they  might  escape,  sallied  forth  to  find  them, 
considering  them  already  vanquished.  This  was  Dec.  5. 
The  enemy  took  another  road,  making  some  prisoners,  from 
whom  they  learned  that  the  town  was  destitute  of  men.  They 
hastened  their  inarch  and  were  before  the  place  Dec.  7,  at  3  p.  m. 
It  was  an  easy  prey,  but  the  Iroquois,  fearing  the  return  of  the 
warriors,  with  great  cruelties  killed  all  who  could  not  march 
quickly.  Father  Charles  Gamier  was  alone  in  this  mission  and 
went  at  once  to  his  chapel,  where  he  was  killed  at  his  post,  but 
without  torture.  The  Iroquois  had  no  time  for  that.  Two  days 
after  the  Petun  warriors  returned.  Their  homes  were  desolate, 
their  people  dead  or  in  captivity.  Their  horror  was  too  deep  for 
cries  or  words.  For  half  a  day  they  sat  silent  on  the  ground, 
without  raising  their  eyes,  without  moving  and  seeming  hardly 
to  breathe,  like  statues  of  stone. 

The  western  war  diminished  but  did  not  remove  hostilities  on 
the  St  Lawrence.  The  Mohawks  attacked  the  French  in  1650, 
near  Three  Rivers,  fighting  in  the  marsh  and  flying  in  their 
canoes.  When  their  enemies  were  scattered,  they  turned  against 
them.  They  were  led  by  a  half-breed,  well  known  as  the  Dutch 
Bastard.  In  the  Mohawk  country  a  party  of  Hurons  and  Algon- 
quins  was  betrayed  to  the  Mohawks  that  year  and  was  destroyed. 

Still  most  of  the  Mohawks  were  aiding  the  upper  Iroquois  that 
year,  having  their  promise  to  fight  against  the  Andastes  as  soon 
as  the  western  warfare  was  oxer.  This  had  a  new  object  for  a 
while.  In  1650  war  began  against  the  Neutrals,  whose  frontier 
towns  were  quickly  taken,  one  in  the  autumn  of  1650,  the  other 
the  following  spring.  <  )ne  was  garrisoned  by  1600  men.  The  car- 
nage  was  fearful  and  the  number  of  prisoners  immense,  the  young 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  197 

women  being  reserved  to  populate  the  Iroquois  towns.  The 
Neutral  nation  wras  ruined,  terror  was  everywhere,  even  the  dis- 
tant towns  were  abandoned,  and  multitudes  perished  in  the 
woods.  In  this  terrible  scene  the  Iroquois  lost  all  fear,  and  were 
everywhere  present  to  increase  its  horrors.  Hurons,  Neutrals 
and  Tionontaties  fell  on  every  hand,  the  sight  of  one  Iroquois 
putting  a  host  to  flight.  The  Montagnards  and  the  Algonquins 
of  the  Ottawa  river  were  swept  away,  and  trade  was  ruined. 

The  names  of  some  Neutral  towns  appear  in  earlier  Relations. 
A  note  in  Charlevoix's  Nezv  France  [i  :  271]  says  that  in  1650  the 
Neutrals,  under  Tahontaenrat,  routed  600  Iroquois,  and  killed 
200.  The  Relations  say  nothing  of  this,  and  the  name  is  that  of  a 
Huron  tribe.  The  same  note  says  that  in  1651  the  Iroquois 
attacked  the  Neutrals  and  took  Te  Otondiatin.  Their  success 
seems  to  have  been  uniform. 

The  only  reverse  the  Iroquois  had  at  this  time  in  this  western 
warfare  was  not  in  the  open  field  but  through  Huron  treachery. 
This  was  long  remembered  and  fully  punished.  The  Hurons  had 
a  fort  on  an  island,  and  the  Iroquois  built  one  on  the  mainland 
opposite.  By  deceptive  acts  and  false  proposals  of  peace,  30  of 
the  bravest  Iroquois  were  decoyed  into  the  Huron  fort  and  slain. 
The  survivors  went  away  for  aid  and  most  of  the  Hurons  fled, 
those  who  did  not  being  soon  destroyed.  When  one  reads  the 
history  of  those  three  years,  one  can  appreciate  the  feelings  of 
the  missionaries  when  they  said  they  would  do  all  they  could, 
"  in  spite  of  all  the  rage  of  hell,  and  the  cruelties  of  the  Iroquois, 
who  are  worse  than  the  (lemons  of  hell." 

Three  powerful  nations  being  now  out  of  the  way,  the  Iroquois 
soon  came  in  contact  with  others  north  and  west.  Idle  stories  of 
earlier  treaties  with  the  Ottawas  and  Ojibwas  scarcely  deserve 
mention,  though  some  have  given  credence  to  them.  If  they 
have  any  foundation,  the  date  must  be  later  than  the  Huron  con- 
quest, the  immediate  effects  of  which  were  great.  Among  others 
the  Attikamegues,  or  White  Fish  nation  of  the  northwest,  was 
thrice  invaded,  and  the  women  and  children  carried  off  "to  the 
land  of  tins  and  flames." 


igS  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Chapter  8 

French  and  Boston  people.  Mohawk  chief  burned  at  Three  Rivers.  Pon- 
cet  taken  and  released.  Onondaga  negotiations.  Garakontie'.  Le  Moyne 
visits  Onondaga  and  the  salt  springs.  Iroquois  slaves.  Death  of  An- 
nenraes  and  the  Erie  war.  Le  Moyne  visits  the  Mohawks.  Chaumonot 
and  Dablon  visit  Onondaga  and  build  chapel.  Jealousy  between  Mo- 
hawks and  Onondagas.  Dablon  returns.  Journey  of  French  colony. 
Fort  built  on  Onondaga  lake.  Land  grant.  Site  of  the  mission.  Gar- 
reau  killed.     Missions  in  four  Iroquois  nations.     Withdrawal  of  colony. 

The  Mohawks  did  not  all  go  to  the  western  wars.  In  1650 
they  asked  leave  of  the  Dutch  to  cross  their  lands  in  going  against 
the  eastern  Indians,  feeling  bound  to  do  this  by  the  treaty  made 
five  years  before.  This  was  not  yet  old  enough  for  full  confi- 
dence, and,  when  the  Tappan  Indians  came  to  Fort  Orange  that 
year,  saying  that  the  Mohawks  were  about  to  attack  the  Dutch, 
some  alarm  was  felt.  Labatie,  who  commanded  there,  was  asked 
to  go  to  them  with  a  new  embassy  but  refused,  yet  deputies  were 
sent  and  distributed  presents  to  the  amount  of  600  guilders. 

In  165 1  the  Council  at  Quebec  proposed  an  offensive  and 
defensive  alliance  against  the  Iroquois  to  the  people  of  Boston, 
as  they  were  troublesome  to  both.  In  their  proposal  the  French 
said  they  were  "  barbarous  Heathens,  who  have  neither  God,  nor 
Faith,  nor  Justice  in  all  their  proceedings." 

The  Hurons,  settled  near  Quebec,  became  presumptuous  at  this 
time  and  raised  a  war  party  against  the  Mohawks  which  they 
thought  invincible.  Some  Algonquins  and  others  joined  them, 
but  they  were  defeated  with  much  loss.  There  are  several  base- 
less stories,  ascribed  to  this  period,  of  conflicts  and  treaties. 

Father  Jacques  Buteux  was  killed  by  the  Iroquois  May  10, 
1652,  while  on  his  way  to  the  White  Fish  nation.  War  continued, 
generally  with  advantage  to  the  Iroquois.  When  they  defeated 
the  Huron  party  mentioned,  they  took  Toratati,  the  chief,  and 
burned  him  alive.  One  doubtful  act  increased  the  enmity  to  the 
French.  A  hostile  Mohawk  party  on  the  St  Lawrence  began  to 
make  proposals  of  peace.  These  were  distrusted,  and  one  ol 
their  canoes  was  seized,  with  three  men.  One  was  their  leader, 
Aontarisati,  a  great  favorite  in  his  own  land,  and  the  Mohawks 
were  much  enraged   when   he   was  burned   at  Three  Rivers  after 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  199 

being  baptized.  To  avenge  his  death,  a  Mohawk  party  came 
near  that  place  the  following  winter,  but  the  French  strength- 
ened their  works  and  doubled  the  guard.  The  enemy  withdrew, 
but  a  small  party  returned  in  the  spring,  making  ambushes  and 
doing  much  damage.  Father  Poncet  was  taken  prisoner  Aug. 
20,  1653,  with  another  Frenchman  who  was  burned.  Poncet  was 
soon  released,  because  of  new  proposals  for  peace.  While  in  the 
Mohawk  country  he  was  adopted  by  a  widow,  and  said : 

So  soon  as  I  entered  her  cabin  she  began  to  sing  the  song  of 
the  dead,  in  which  she  was  joined  by  her  two  daughters.  I  was 
standing  near  the  fire  during  these  mournful  dirges;  they  made 
me  sit  upon  a  sort  of  table  slightly  raised,  and  then  I  understood 
I  was  in  the  place  of  the  dead,  for  whom  these  women  renewed 
the  last  mourning,  to  bring  the  deceased  to  life  again  in  my  per- 
son, according  to  their  custom. 

Unexpected  events  had  happened  and  his  release  came  quickly. 

He  said : 

I  was  only  a  month  in  the  land  of  the  Iroquois.  I  came  in  the 
fourth  of  September;  I  went  out  the  third  of  October.  And  in 
this  brief  time  I  had  intercourse  with  the  Hollanders ;  I  had  seen 
Fort  Orange ;  I  had  passed  three  times  through  the  four  villages 
of  the  Iroquois  Agniers ;  the  remainder  of  the  time  of  my  cap- 
tivity was  occupied  in  my  going  and  my  return.  I  was  taken  by 
the  River  of  the  Iroquois  and  Lake  Champlain,  and  consequently 
there  were  but  two  days  of  the  journey  by  land.  And  I  was 
brought  back  by  another  route,  so  that  I  have  passed  over  the 
two  routes  which  their  armies  and  their  warriors  take  when  they 
come  in  search  of  us. 

Montreal  suffered  much  from  the  Iroquois,  but  Maison-neuve 
brought  100  settlers  from  France,  and  conditions  improved.  One 
event  became  historic,  the  beginning  of  a  new  era.  In  the  midst 
of  alarms,  60  Onondagas  came  to  Montreal  June  26,  1653,  to 
propose  peace,  saying  that  the  Cayugas  and  Oneidas  favored 
their  coming.  They  warned  the  French  also  that  600  Mohawks 
were  in  the  field,  intending  to  fall  on  Three  Rivers.  The  Onon- 
dagas had  a  good  reception,  going  also  to  Quebec,  and  sent  a 
second  deputation  there  in  September. 

One  Mohawk  party  was  defeated  by  the  Hurons  on  the  island 
of  Montreal,  the  captain  and  four  principal  men  being  made  pris- 


200  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

oners,  and  there  were  other  fierce  encounters.  The  Mohawks  at 
Three  Rivers,  finding  unexpected  resistance,  sent  in  a  white  flag 
with  proposals  of  peace,  a  favorite  scheme.  When  told  of  Father 
Poncet's  captivity,  they  at  once  sent  orders  for  his  release.  Mean- 
time, the  Huron s  and  their  prisoners  fell  into  their  hands,  but 
were. well  treated,  and  all  went  on  to  Quebec,  accompanied  by 
the  Onondaga  deputies.  Andioura,  the  Mohawk  chief,  was 
speaker  at  Quebec,  showing  the  presents  and  asking  that  a  French 
settlement  should  be  made  in  the  Iroquois  country.  The  Iro- 
quois went  home  to  ratify  the  peace  in  their  own  land.  All  this 
was  done  in  September,  but  the  Onondagas  promised  to  come 
again  before  spring. 

The  Mohawks  desired  by  this  treaty  to  secure  the  Hurons  at 
Quebec  for  themselves  and  the  Onondagas  did  the  same.  A 
council  was  held  with  the  latter  Feb.  5,  1654,  affirming  the  peace, 
but  the  desire  of  both  for  the  Hurons  again  clouded  the  prospect. 
The  Hurons  feared  these  nations  most  and  their  mutual  jealousy. 
They  thought  the  Onondagas  had  not  forgotten  the  death  of  34 
men,  treacherously  killed  in  the  island  fort,  and  that  the  Mohawks 
hoped  to  avenge  Aontarisati,  whom  they  had  burned.  This 
business  was  deferred.  While  this  was  going  on,  the  Oneidas 
seized  a  Frenchman  and  took  him  to  their  country,  but  he  was 
soon  released  at  Garakontie"s  desire,  who  pledged  his  life  for 
him.  Some  Tionontaties  and  Ottawas  had  taken  13  Senecas  and 
others,  while  on  their  way  to  Montreal,  but  gave  their  captives 
into  the  hands  of  Sagochiendaguete',  the  principal  man  of  the 
Onondagas.  This  was  Garakontie',  often  called  by  the  Onon- 
daga council  name  in  virtue  of  his  office. 

Father  Simon  Le  Moyne  went  to  Onondaga  on  this  important 
business,  leaving  Montreal  July  17,  1  <^>54,  accompanied  by  a  young 
Frenchman  called  Jean  Baptiste.  Soon  after  the  Mohawks  came 
down  and  objected  to  his  mission,  there  being  a  strong  jealousy 
between  the  two  nations.  The  .Mohawks  said  they  were  the 
eastern  door  and  all  outside  business  should  be  done  through 
them.  It  was  dangerous  for  the  French  to  come  through  the 
central   chimney,   for  I  hey   might    fall   into  the  great   council   tire. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  201 

On  this  they  were  promised  a  visit  from  Le  Moyne  if  they  could 
overtake  him,  but  they  failed  in  this. 

The  journal  is  of  great  interest,  describing  the  upper  St  Law- 
rence for  the  first  time.  Like  some  later  writers,  he  included 
the  Thousand  Islands  in  Lake  Ontario.  At  the  mouth  of  Sal- 
mon river  he  found  a  village  of  captive  Hurons,  among  them  many 
old  friends.  They  belonged  to  the  Onondagas.  Thence  he 
crossed  the  country  to  the  foot  of  Oneida  lake,  where  was  an 
Onondaga  fishing  village.  Small  hamlets  lay  beyond.  From 
the  lake  his  course  was  due  south  to  Onondaga,  then  a  large  town 
on  Indian  hill,  2  miles  south  of  Manlius  village.  There  he  had  a 
grand  reception  and  was  lodged  in  Garakontie"s  house.  He  was 
used  to  Indian  ways  and  was  a  general  favorite.  His  knowledge 
of  the  Huron  tongue  was  useful  here,  for  it  was  much  like  the 
Mohawk.  At  first  called  Ouane  by  the  Hurons,  he  had  suc- 
ceeded to  Jogues's  name  of  Ondessonk. 

He  reached  Onondaga  Aug.  5,  entering  the  town  singing  the 
ambassador's  song  and  receiving  addresses  of  welcome.  He  was 
delighted  to  meet  old  Huron  friends  and,  when  the  council  met, 
Aug.  10,  he  presented  his  19  belts,  speaking  for  two  hours  in  a 
chief's  tone  and  manner.  In  his  speech  he  bewailed  the  death  of 
Annenraes,  taken  and  killed  by  the  Eries.  This  Onondaga  chief 
was  once  a  prisoner  to  the  Hurons. 

On  the  way  and  in  the  town  Le  Moyne  had  baptized  several 
children.  His  first  adult  baptism  there  was  of  a  captive  Neutral 
girl.  Colden  said  that  the  Iroquois  had  no  slaves,  but  they  are 
often  mentioned  in  the  Relations  and  their  treatment  described. 
They  were  absolutely  at  the  will  of  their  masters.  Just  before 
Le  Moyne  left  he  had  a  convert  of  importance,  baptizing  Ochiona- 
gueras  by  the  name  of  Jean  Baptiste.  He  was  the  leader  of  the 
army  against  the  Eries  and  the  first  Onondaga  adult  baptized. 

Le  Moyne  began  his  return  Aug.  15,  with  the  usual  parting 
ceremonies.  The  village  was  nearly  15  miles  from  the  salt 
springs,  which  were  reached  next  day.  At  that  time  the  Indians 
did  not  use  salt  and  they  thought  the  springs  were  inhabited  by 
some  demon.     Le  Moyne  boiled  the  water  and  made  salt,  carry- 


202  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

ing  some  to  Quebec.  Through  an  error  in  quotation  a  knowledge 
of  this  by  the  French  has  been  placed  10  years  earlier.  The 
Kirkpatrick  fountain,  near  the  spot,  will  commemorate  this  event. 

Le  Moyne  was  now  on  new  waters  and  his  passage  down  the 
Oswego  river  the  earliest  recorded  by  a  white  man,  Champlain 
not  having  reached  that  stream,  and  Le  Moyne  not  having  landed 
at  Oswego,  as  many  have  supposed.  Lake  Ontario  was  now 
called  the  Lake  of  the  Iroquois,  and  the  missionary  followed  its 
shore  to  Salmon  river,  arriving  there  Aug.  23.  He  said :  "  We 
arrive  at  the  place  which  they  destine  for  our  house,  and  a  French 
settlement.  There  are  charming  prairies,  good  fishing,  an  access 
for  all  nations." 

From  his  journal  the  rest  of  the  way  seems  uneventful,  but 
Charlevoix  said  he  suppressed  one  important  particular,  lest  it 
should  lead  to  trouble.  He  said  that  Le  Moyne  had  with  him  two 
Onondagas,  some  Hurons  and  Algonquins,  who  were  surrounded 
by  Mohawk  canoes,  when  near  Montreal,  and  fired  on.  The  Hu- 
rons, Algonquins  and  one  Onondaga,  were  killed  and  Le  Moyne 
made  a  prisoner.  The  surviving  Onondaga  was  told  he  might 
go  home,  but  he  refused  to  abandon  his  charge  and  threatened 
the  Mohawks  with  the  wrath  of  the  upper  Iroquois.  They 
relented,  and  the  Onondaga  took  Le  Moyne  to  Montreal.  Mother 
Mary  of  the  Incarnation  said  the  Mohawks  threw  the  blame  on 
the  Dutch  Bastard.  The  story  is  in  every  way  improbable,  the 
Onondagas  would  not  have  passed  over  such  an  affront  lightly, 
nor  would  Le  Moyne  have  visited  the  Mohawks  the  following 
year. 

One  interesting  feature  of  this  visit  to  Onondaga  was  the 
recovery  of  Brebeuf's  New  Testament  and  Garnier's  book  of 
devotions,  showing  that  the  Onondagas  were  active  in  the  Huron 
tragedy.     They  also  had  Huron,  Neutral  and  Petun  captives. 

The  Erie  war  increased  the  demand  for  arms  and  ammunition ; 
and,  lest  the  Iroquois  should  get  these  of  the  English,  the  Dutch 
ordered  Rutger  Johnson  to  furnish  them  sparingly  and  secretly. 
The  Erics  were  called  Rique'  by  the  Iroquois  and  Eriee'  by  the 
Hurons,  not  as  pronounced  by  us.  Their  exact  location  is  uncer- 
tain ;  but,  as  the  Onondagas  carried  their  canoes  to  their  towns, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  203 

which  were  inland,  they  may  have  ascended  Cattaraugus  creek 
or  gone  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Alleghany,  perhaps  both.  The 
story  of  the  war  and  its  causes  is  interesting.  The  Eries  had  sent 
30  men  to  the  Senecas  to  treat  of  peace,  and,  while  they  were 
there,  a  Seneca  was  elsewhere  killed  by  an  Erie.  The  Senecas  fell 
on  the  ambassadors,  of  whom  but  five  escaped.  War  ensuing,  the 
Onondaga  chief,  Annenraes,  was  taken  before  he  knew  of  the 
outbreak ;  but  he  proved  as  persuasive  as  of  old  and  was  given 
to  the  sister  of  one  of  the  dead  ambassadors,  with  the  hope  that 
he  might  preserve  peace.  She  was  not  then  at  home,  but  they 
doubted  not  her  acceptance,  clothed  him  handsomely  and  feasted 
him  well.  When  she  returned,  she  refused  all  offers,  though 
this  might  ruin  her  country.  He  must  die,  and  they  had  to  yield. 
They  took  him  from  the  feast,  stripped  him  of  his  robes  and 
kindled  the  fire.  "  He  cried  out  before  dying  that  they  were 
going  to  burn  a  nation  in  his  person,  and  that  they  would  cruelly 
avenge  his  death."  An  Iroquois  army  quickly  took  the  field  and 
made  his  words  good. 

There  is  a  fanciful  Seneca  tradition  of  this  war  which  has  been 
credited  by  many,  but  which  has  no  likeness  to  the  contempo- 
raneous account,  and  the  latter  has  some  difficulties.  According 
to  this  the  Eries  abandoned  most  of  their  towns,  but  at  last  made 
a  stand  in  a  strong  fort  and  were  summoned  to  surrender.  They 
refused,  and  a  terrible  assault  began,  which  was  long  unsuccess- 
ful. The  palisades  were  high  and  well  defended.  The  Iroquois 
took  their  canoes  and  bore  them  before  them,  using  them  first  as 
shields  and  then  as  ladders.  The  fort  was  carried  with  the  loss 
of  many  of  the  assailants,  but  with  terrible  carnage  to  the  inmates. 
After  this,  300  rallied  and  planned  a  surprise,  which  was  badly 
conducted.  At  the  first  Iroquois  yell  they  lost  heart  and  fled. 
The  invaders  suffered  much,  but  except  as  captives  the  Eries 
appeared  no  more.     One  campaign  destroyed  them. 

The  Iroquois  invaders  are  said  to  have  been  1800  men,  but 
it  is  safe  to  reduce  this  estimate,  and,  as  the  Eries  fought  bravely 
on  the  defensive  in  a  strong  fort,  their  numbers  could  hardly  have 
been  large,  and  archeologic  evidence  rather  favors  this.     This 


204  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

accords  with  the  fact  that  before  this  they  left  the  shore  of  Lake 
Erie  to  seek  homes  less  exposed  to  their  foes.  On  the  other  hand, 
their  warlike  character  made  them  dreaded  by  the  Iroquois,  who 
were  inclined  to  the  French  by  this  fear.  Few  or  many,  they 
were  brave.  As  the  birthplace  of  a  captive  to  the  Oneidas,  the 
name  of  Gentaieton,  the  chief  Erie  town,  alone  has  come  down 
to  us. 

In  1655  Le  Moyne  went  to  the  Mohawks  and  was  well  received. 
Both  Seneca  and  Onondaga  ambassadors  were  in  Canada  that 
year,  which  resulted  in  the  journey  of  Fathers  Joseph  Chaumonot 
and  Claude  Dablon  to  Onondaga,  where  a  firm  alliance  was  made 
and  a  place  selected  for  a  colony,  this  being  changed  from  Salmon 
river  to  Onondaga  lake. 

The  two  missionaries  were  received  with  the  usual  stately 
Iroquois  ceremonies  for  ambassadors,  and  they  have  left  graphic 
accounts  of  these.  As  in  many  other  cases,  Garakontie',  the  head 
chief  and  always  their  host,  was  called  by  the  Onondaga  council 
name.  Nov.  7,  1655,  "  It  was  told  the  Father  in  this  assembly, 
first  that  [S]  Agochiendaguete',  who  is  as  the  great  king  of  all 
the  country,  and  Onnontio  were  equally  firm  and  constant  in  their 
decisions."  The  French  superior  of  missions  was  called  Achi- 
endase'  by  the  Iroquois,  and  all  the  missionaries  had  Indian 
names,  which  were  given  to  others  when  they  died.  Curiously 
enough,  Mr  J.  ( i.  Shea  thought  Garakontie'  was  not  a  principal 
chief  and  that  he  was  a  nephew  of  Sagochiendaguete'.  This 
came  from  a  confusion  of  names. 

Nov.  18  a  chapel  was  built,  of  which  Dablon  said,  "  For  mar- 
bles and  precious  stones  we  had  but  bark  ;  but  the  way  to  heaven 
is  as  open  through  a  roof  of  bark  as  through  fretted  ceilings  of 
silver  and  gold."     The  mission  was  named  St  John   Baptist. 

Tlu-  speeches  and  songs  in  the  council  at  this  time  were  fully 
recorded  l>v  Dablon,  Garakontie'  intoning  most  of  the  latter.  It 
was  a  beautiful  land  which  the  French  were  to  inhabit.  The 
news  of  their  coming  was  good  and  their  speech  heavenly.  Very 
welcome  were  these  brethren  of  the  delightful  voice.  Farewell 
to  war  and  all  it-  horrors.  Both  parties  had  been  mad,  but  were 
now  brothers.     The  great  peace  was  made,  everything  was  beau- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  205 

tiful,  and  henceforth  there  would  be  mutual  support.  It  was  a 
time  of  rejoicing. 

About  this  time  the  Dutch  had  Indian  troubles,  there  being  an 
outbreak  near  Manhattan,  and  in  October  the  Dutch  at  Fort 
Orange  thought  it  prudent  to  renew  their  Mohawk  alliance.  In 
November  ioo  Mohawks  came  there  to  say  that  they  were  about 
to  attack  the  Hurons  and  asked  the  Dutch  to  be  neutral. 

The  Mohawks  and  Onondagas  were  often  in  antagonism.  In 
1656  a  Mohawk  chief  desired  the  French  "  to  close  the  door  of 
his  houses  and  his  forts  to  the  Onnontagueronnon,  who  wishes 
to  be  my  foe,  and  who  broods  over  thoughts  of  war  against  me." 
A  little  earlier  the  Mohawks  had  killed  a  Seneca  ambassador 
near  Montreal,  jealous  of  his  mission  to  the  French.  This 
nearly  caused  a  war  between  the  two  nations,  going  so  far  that 
the  Mohawks  unsuccessfully  applied  to  the  Dutch  for  mediation 
and  aid.  This  matter  was  afterward  settled  at  Onondaga,  though 
the  two  nations  "  were  at  the  point  of  entering  into  war."  Their 
alliance  was  not  old  enough  to  make  them  thoroughly  one.  In 
1653  an  Onondaga  chief  had  told  the  French  "  that  it  was  very 
necessary  to  distinguish  between  nation  and  nation ;  that  the 
Onnontaeronnons  were  not  unfaithful  like  the  Anniehronnon 
Iroquois,"  with  like  complimentary  speeches. 

Chaumonot  and  Dablon  have  left  notes  of  their  winter  at 
(  mondaga,  but  found  the  people  impatient  of  French  delays. 
For  three  years  they  had  talked  of  founding  a  colony,  but  nothing 
had  been  done.  If  they  did  not  act  at  once,  the  plan  would  be 
abandoned  and  war  might  follow.  On  this  Dablon  returned  to 
Montreal  early  in  March  1656.  crossing  (  meida  lake  on  the  ice 
and  reaching  Montreal  after  a  fearful  journey.  The  emergency 
was  seen,  his  mission  was  successful,  and  the  French  colony  left 
Quebec,  May  17.  1756,  escorted  by  some  Onondagas,  Senecas  and 
Hurons.  There  were  four  Jesuit  fathers  and  two  brothers  in  the 
party,  and  between  50  and  60  colonists  and  soldiers.  Soon  after 
starting,  they  were  assailed  by  a  party  of  Mohawks,  who  mal- 
treated some  of  the  Onondagas,  but  made  excuses,  fearing  war 
with  that  people. 


206  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

At  Montreal  they  embarked  in  20  canoes,  leaving  there  June 
8.  A  large  flag  of  white  taffeta,  with  the  name  of  Jesus,  floated 
over  one  of  these.  Some  Mohawks  were  encountered,  whom  the 
Onondagas,  their  kindred,  reviled  and  plundered.  Hunger 
pressed  the  party  sorely,  July  3,  but  they  hoped  for  relief  at 
Otiatonnehengue',  the  fishing  village  at  the  mouth  of  Salmon 
river.  No  one  was  there,  the  fishing  season  being  over,  and 
from  their  distress  the  place  was  long  known  as  La  Famine. 
Charlevoix  connected  this  name  with  De  la  Barre's  camp  there, 
but  it  appeared  before  that  time. 

Out  of  14  Indians  but  five  remained  with  them,  and  the  party- 
struggled  on,  contending  with  the  waves  of  the  lake  and  the 
rapids  of  Oswego  river,  hungry  and  faint  all  the  way.  At 
Oswego  Falls  there  came  welcome  relief.  Salmon  filled  the 
river  and  the  Onondagas  sent  them  food.  Brimming  kettles  were 
set  over  the  fires.  They  reveled  in  their  abundant  supplies  and 
rejoiced,  for  "  one  fair  day  effaces  the  memory  of  ten  which  are 
bad."  Pleasantly  they  ascended  the  broad  and  beautiful  stream, 
entering  Onondaga  lake,  July  1 1,  firing  their  five  small  cannon  and 
advancing  in  ranks  of  four  canoes.  They  were  joyfully  received 
by  the  assembled  multitudes,  and  the  fortified  mission  of  St  Mary 
of  Gannentaa  was  soon  built  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake. 

The  colonists  of  New  York  and  Canada  differed  in  the  appro- 
priation of  land.  The  former  purchased  land  at  a  nominal  price, 
the  latter  took  what  they  wanted.  In  the  allied  documents  of 
Burrows's  edition  of  the  Jesuit  Relations  is  a  translation  of  a 
deed  given  by  Governor  Lauson  to  the  Jesuits  at  this  time.  There 
was  granted  and  given  to  them  : 

Ten  leagues  of  space  in  every  direction — that  is  to  say,  ten 
leagues  front  and  ten  leagues  depth, — and  where  they  shall 
choose  to  establish  themselves  in  the  country  of  the  Upper  Irocois 
called  Onondageoronons,  be  it  in  or  near  the  village  of  Onnon- 
dage,  or  at  Gannentae,  or  as  is  said,  in  that  place  where  they 
shall  judge  most  convenient  to  them,  the  said  space  and  extent 
of  ten  leagues  square  is  to  be  possessed  by  the  said  reverend 
Jesuit  fathers,  their  successors  and  assigns,  in  freehold  forever. 

The   Onondaga   town    lay    within    this    space,    and   its   people 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  207 

probably  never  knew  of  the  existence  of  a  grant  so  absolute, 
and  to  which  their  consent  had  never  been  asked.  The  grand 
seneschal  of  New  France  was  enjoined  to  put  the  Jesuits  in  pos- 
session. The  governor  had  also/'  caused  a  fort  to  be  erected  on 
Lake  Gonontaa,  and  granted  to  sundry  private  persons  some  Iro- 
quois lands,  for  which  deeds  have  been  executed."  This  was 
dated  at  Quebec,  Ap.  12,  1756,  five  weeks  before  the  colony  left. 
The  French  ideas  were  much  like  those  of  Governor  Winthrop 
of  Massachusetts :  "  If  we  leave  them  sufficient  for  their  use, 
we  may  lawfully  take  the  rest,  there  being  more  than  enough 
for  them  and  us." 

The  mission  buildings  were  erected  on  the  east  shore  of  Onon- 
daga lake,  south  of  the  present  village  of  Liverpool,  the  site 
being  described  as  at  a  distance  from  any  salt  springs.  A  work 
supposed  to  mark  the  spot  was  probably  that  made  by  Frontenac 
40  years  later,  and  does  not  agree  in  outline  with  what  we  know 
of  the  mission  which  probably  stood  there.  Regarding  that,  too, 
the  Relations  definitely  speak  of  but  one  house,  possibly  a  term 
for  the  whole  stockade,  including  several  houses,  the  circum- 
stances seeming  to  require  this  in  order  to  build  and  remove 
several  large  boats  unseen,  with  their  lading.  On  the  other  hand, 
Charlevoix  distinctly  speaks  of  the  Jesuits'  own  house  as  the 
largest  of  all.  In  De  Nonville's  memoir  of  1688  it  is  also  said 
that  the  colonists  cleared  and  planted  fields,  and  also  "  built 
many  large  houses."  For  lodging  over  60  men  it  could  hardly 
have  been  otherwise. 

More  specifically,  the  mission  seems  to  have  been  on  lot  106, 
Salina,  near  the  large  spring  where  Frontenac's  fort  was  in  1696 
and  which  he  left  to  camp  for  a  night  at  the  salt  springs,  all  the 
early  ones  known  being  south  of  the  marsh.  A  passage  in  the 
Relation  of  1656  has  been  misapplied.  In  this  we  are  told : 
"  The  fountain  of  which  one  makes  very  good  salt,  intersects 
a  beautiful  prairie,  surrounded  by  a  grove  of  high  forest  trees. 
At  80  or  100  paces  from  this  salt  spring  is  seen  another  of  fresh 
water,  and  these  two  opposites  take  birth  from  the  bosom  of  the 
same  hill." 


208  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

The  last  was  not  the  so  called  Jesuit  spring,  but  one  formerly 
in  the  first  ward  of  Syracuse.  The  Relation  says  there  was  no 
salt  spring  near  the  mission.  When  rattlesnakes  were  described, 
the  writer  said:  "I  know  not  if  the  serpents  are  attracted  by 
the  salt;  but  I  well  know  that  the  place  where  we  have  set  up 
our  dwelling,  surrounded  by  beautiful  springs  of  fresh  water,  is 
not  infested  by  them,  though  it  is  on  the  shores  of  the  same  lake." 

A  redoubt  was  soon  made  for  the  soldiers,  and  around  it  "  the 
fountains  of  fresh  water  were  in  abundance."  De  Xonville  said 
that  the  60  French  included  12  soldiers  under  Dupuis,  and  that 
they  left  four  bronze  cannon.     There  were  more  of  both. 

The  trouble  between  the  Mohawks  and  Senecas  was  settled  by 
arbitration  at  Onondaga  in  1656,  this  being  an  early  Iroquois 
principle.  "  This  grand  council  was  held  on  the  24th  of  July, 
when  all  the  nations  referred  to  Achiendase'  (who  was  our  father 
superior)  the  cause  of  the  Mohawks  and  Senecas,  which  was  vers 
soon  ended."  The  former  did  not  even  then  feel  quite  safe  from 
their  allies,  for  next  year  they  asked  the  Dutch  for  a  refuge  for 
their  families  if  attacked  by  the  Senecas,  and  horses  to  draw  pali- 
sades to  repair  their  forts. 

Father  Garreau  was  killed  by  the  Mohawks  in  Canada  in  1656 
and  in  that  year  they  paraded  before  Quebec,  making  some  Can- 
adian Indian  prisoners  dance.  Meanwhile,  the  strife  for  the 
Hurons  went  on.  The  Mohawks  carried  off  some  near  Quebec, 
killing  many  but  granting  peace  to  the  rest  on  condition  that 
they  would  soon  go  to  the  Mohawk  country.  When  they  came 
for  them,  the  Hurons  still  hesitated.  The  nation  of  the  Cord 
refused  to  go,  but  the  Bears  went.  Those  oi  the  Rock  would  go 
to  Onondaga,  but  some  were  massacred  on  the  road. 

Meanwhile,  (haumonot  had  visited  the  Senecas  and  Oneidas, 
and  missions  were  established  among  all  the  nations  except  the 
Mohawks.  Father  Menard  had  a  mission  among  the  Cayugas, 
and  on  the  shore  of  their  lake  David  Le  Moine  died.  lie  was 
a  donne,  or  one  specially  devoted  to  religious  work.  At  Onon- 
daga lake  there  was  much  sickness  and  two  deaths  occurred. 
The  ( )nondagas  came  to  comfort  the  French,  relieving  the  sick 
and  covering  the  graves  of  the  dead  with  speeches  and  presents. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  20O, 

The  Mohawks  now  plotted  their  ruin.  The  Onondagas,  at  first 
enthusiastic  over  their  new  friends,  became  lukewarm  and  then 
secretly  hostile,  though  the  French  afterward  had  no  doubt  of 
their  sincerity  at  first.  The  destruction  of  the  colony  was  deter- 
mined, but  was  delayed  by  two  causes.  Garakontie'  favored  the 
French  and  postponed  their  surprise  under  various  pretexts, 
probably  even  giving  them  warning.  Besides  this,  a  large  num- 
ber of  Iroquois  were  under  restraint  at  Montreal,  and  the  blow 
could  not  be  struck  till  these  were  safe.  With  hints  of  the  plot, 
the  French  made  shrewd  preparations.  It  was  winter,  and  all 
the  missionaries  were  called  in.  Some  colonists  and  soldiers  had 
returned  to  Canada.  The  rest  were  employed  in  making  boats  in 
the  garret  of  a  large  house.  Charlevoix  varies  much  from  the 
Relation  in  minor  details.  The  colony  had  four  Algonquin  and 
four  Iroquois  canoes  and  built  two  bateaux,  each  large  enough 
for  15  men.     In  this  little  fleet  53  persons  were  to  embark. 

In  due  time  a  feast  was  proclaimed,  which  may  have  been  held 
outside  of  the  mission,  in  the  cabins  east  of  the  house,  where 
some  had  been  made,  the  town  being  nearly  15  miles  away.  If 
held  within,  great  precautions  must  have  been  taken.  During 
the  noise  of  the  feast,  the  boats  were  carried  out  of  the  back  door 
of  the  stockade,  launched  and  loaded.  The  guests  were  dis- 
missed, and,  when  all  were  asleep,  the  fort  was  evacuated,  on  the 
night  of  Mar.  20,  1658.  A  fearful  journey  it  was  through  the 
freezing  lake,  down  the  river,  over  the  portage  at  the  falls  and 
through  Lake  Ontario.  At  its  foot  they  cut  their  way  through 
the  ice.  In  running  the  rapids  three  men  were  drowmed.  but  the 
rest  reached  Montreal,  Ap.  3,  where  the  ice  had  just  gone  out. 
All  through  it  was  a  marvelous  deliverance,  and  their  disap- 
pearance greatly  astonished  the  Onondagas,  who  waited  till  the 
next  night  for  them  to  come  forth,  wondering  at  their  long 
silence.     At  Montreal  they  were  hailed  as  men  from  the  dead. 

In  that  year  the  Mohawks  sent  a  large  party  to  join  the  upper 
Iroquois  against  the  Ottawas,  who  had  killed  30  of  their  men  the 
year  before.  Their  leader  was  Tecarihoguen,  head  chief  of  the 
Mohawks.     At  this  time  the  upper  lakes  were  lined  with  Algon- 


210  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

quins  and  other  refugees  from  the  Iroquois,  some  Hurons  having 
retired  beyond  Lake  Superior. 

Chapter  9 

Iroquois  war  renewed,  and  their  strength.  Huron  and  French  defeat  on 
Ottawa  river.  Sad  condition  of  Canada.  Proposals  of  peace.  Le  Moyne 
goes  to  Onondaga.  His  reception.  Rank  of  Garakontie'.  Hotreouate'. 
War  with  Minquas  or  Andastes.  Iroquois  and  eastern  Indians.  New 
Esopus  war.  Onondaga  embassy  to  Canada  attacked,  with  consequent 
war.  First  treaty  between  Five  Nations  and  English.  De  Tracy  builds 
forts  and  invades  Mohawks  twice. 

War  now  raged  everywhere,  with  varying  fortunes,  but  with 
much  distress  to  the  French,  many  of  whom  were  made  pris- 
oners, but  were  often  well  cared  for  by  Garakontie'.  Governor 
d'Argenson  landed  at  Quebec  July  11,  1658,  and  the  next  day 
there  was  a  massacre  of  Algonquins  close  to  that  place.  The 
Iroquois  were  quickly  pursued,  but  escaped.  Some  Mohawks 
tried  to  surprise  Three  Rivers,  and  afterward  10  of  them  entered 
the  town  for  a  peace  talk  and  were  seized.  Their  leader  was 
Atogoiiaekouan,  or  the  Great  Spoon,  who  came  to  Quebec  to 
treat  of  peace  in  1645.  They  were  released  after  scaring  them. 
The  Iroquois  now  carried  their  arms  far  and  wide  and  in  1659 
began  to  approach  Hudson  bay. 

That  year  the  Mohawks  put  the  Esopus  people  on  their  guard 
and  were  successful  in  arranging  a  truce  between  the  Indians  and 
the  Dutch.  They  again  wanted  help  in  repairing  their  castles  and 
held  a  council  with  the  Dutch,  in  which  reference  was  made  to 
the  first  treaty  between  them  16  years  before,  probably  meaning 
that  of  1645.     Aid  was  supplied. 

Of  the  many  small  encounters  in  the  Canadian  war  little  need 
l)e  said,  but  there  is  a  curious  estimate  of  Iroquois  strength  in  the 
Relation  of  1660,  which  is  worthy  of  note  as  a  contrast  to  the 
numbers  constantly  reported  in  the  field.  Of  the  Mohawks  there 
were  not  more  than  500  warriors,  of  Oneidas  less  than  100,  of 
Onondagas  and  Cayugas  about  300  each,  and  of  Senecas  not 
more  than  1000.  Of  these  the  conquered  ITurons,  Tionontaties, 
Neutrals,  Fries,  Fire  Nation  and  others  made  the  largest  and  best 
part.     Yet  they  were  a  terrible  scourge  to  Canada. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  211 

Late  in  the  winter  of  1660  a  band  of  40  chosen  Hurons  left 
Quebec  on  a  war  party  with  18  Frenchmen.  Some  Algonquins 
joined  them  at  Three  Rivers  and  they  took  post  below  the  Sault 
de  Chaudiere  on  the  Ottawa,  to  wait  for  Iroquois  hunters,  who 
usually  passed  there  in  single  file.  Some  of  these  saw  them  and 
gathered  the  rest,  who  were  soon  arrayed  as  warriors.  Solemnly 
and  openly  200  Onondagas  came  down  the  sault  in  their  canoes, 
ready  for  the  fight.  Their  astonished  foes  took  refuge  in  an  old 
fort,  making  a  vigorous  defense.  Then  the  Mohawks  came  and 
aided  in  the  siege,  which  lasted  for  10  days.  Water  could  be  had 
only  at  the  peril  of  life,  and  part  of  the  Indians  deserted  to  their 
foes.  The  French  fired  on  a  flag  of  truce,  and  the  Iroquois  were 
infuriated.  Guarded  by  wooden  shields,  they  rushed  at  the  pali- 
sades to  cut  them  down.  The  French  grenades  were  exhausted, 
and  they  used  disabled  gun  barrels.  At  last  they  tried  to  throw 
a  barrel  of  powder  over  the  wall,  hoping  it  might  explode  in  the 
midst  of  their  foes.  Unfortunately  it  caught  in  a  bough,  fell  back, 
exploded  within,  and  the  fight  was  soon  over.  Not  so  the  cruel- 
ties of  the  conquerors.  This  disaster  was  deeply  felt  by  both 
Hurons  and  French,  who  also  heard  that  all  the  Iroquois  would 
make  war  on  them  the  coming  year.  Quebec  was  blockaded  by 
700  Iroquois,  victors  in  this  fight.  In  this  gloom  the  only  ray  of 
light  was  that  a  Cayuga  party  came  to  Montreal  and  said  they 
wished  to  be  neutral. 

In  1660  the  Mohawks  invited  the  Indians  living  near  New 
Amsterdam  to  live  with  them  and  made  a  southern  journey  to 
reconcile  the  Minquas  and  Senecas.  They  were  present  at  the 
treaty  with  the  Esopus  Indians  and  gave  bail  for  their  good 
behavior.  The  Senecas  also  came  to  Fort  Orange,  and  the  Dutch 
hoped  they  would  be  at  peace  with  the  Minquas,  here  called 
Maquas  by  clerical  error.  It  was  at  the  conference  at  Esopus 
that  a  Minqua  chief  sharply  reproved  the  Indians  there:  "Ye 
cause  us  and  the  Mohawks  great  losses.  This  is  not  your  land. 
It  is  our  land.  Therefore  repeat  not  this  but  throw  down  the 
hatchet." 

The  next  year  the  Iroquois  waged  a  worse  war  in  Canada, 


212  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

extending  all  the  way  from  Tadoussac  to  Montreal.     At  the  latter 

place  160  Iroquois  appeared  at  the  end  of  winter  and  continued 

their  attacks  all  through  the  summer  of  1661.     To  the  French  at 

Three  Rivers  "  it  was  evil  upon  evil,  and  sorrow  upon  sorrow." 

To  this  were   added  the  terrors  of  the   comet   and   earthquake. 

( )n  the  Ottawa  river  and  Lake  Huron  not  an  Indian  could  be 

found,   so  great  was  the  fear  of  the  Iroquois.     At  Quebec  the 

brave  M.  de  Lauson  was  killed,  and  in  words  of  that  date,  "  the 

Iroquois  burned,  killed  and  carried  off  with  impunity." 

It  was  a  gloomy  time ;    but,  in  the  midst  of  these  trials,  two 

Iroquois  canoes  came  to  Montreal  in  July  1661,  bearing  a  white 

flag-   and   peace   proposals   from    the    Onondagas    and   Cayugas. 

Saonchiogwa,  a  Cayuga  chief  and  friend  of  the  French,  was  the 

speaker.     He  brought  back   four  prisoners  from   Onondaga,   as 

pledges  of  their  sincerity  and  would  restore  others.     The  release 

of  eight  Cayugas  was  desired.     The  mission  house  yet  stood  at 

Lake  Gannentaa,  the  fields  there  were  cultivated  and  ready  for 

the  return  of  the  French.    Garakontie'  had  cared  for  the  prisoners. 

Then  he  spoke  very  gravely. 

It  is  necessary,  said  he,  that  a  Black  Robe  should  come  with 
me  ;  without  this  there  is  no  peace,  and  the  lives  of  twenty  French 
captives  at  Onondaga  are  attached  to  this  voyage.  While  saying 
this  he  produced  the  leaf  of  I  know  not  what  Book,  on  the  mar- 
gin of  which  the  twenty  Frenchmen  had  written  their  names. 

Vs  a  result,  Father  Le  Moyne  went  oh  a  peace  embassy  to  the 

Iroquois  for  the  fifth  time,  regarding  "  the  day  of  his  departure 

as  one  of  the   happiest   days  of  his  life."      A   glorious   mission 

indeed  ;    for  peace  and  deliverance  were  to  be  the  results.     He 

wrote  from  the  chapel  at  Onondaga,  Aug.  25,  [661,  rejoicing  that 

his  confidence  had  not  been  misplaced.     Garakontie'  had  met  him 

two  leagues  from  the  town,  an  unusual  honor,  and  his  reception 

was  like  a  triumph,  the  grandest  that    [roquois  etiquette  could 

device.      Personally    popular   with    all.   he   entered    fully   into  the 

spirit   of   the   occasion,   sustaining   his   part    with   great    applause. 

The    enthusiastic    Onondagas    lined    his    path    for    two    leagues, 

running  on    and    taking   new    stations   when    he   had   passed,   that 

the)   might  see  and  greet  him  again.     He  said: 


HISTORY   OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  213 

J  walked  gravely  between  two  rows  of  people,  who  give  me  a 
thousand  benedictions,  and  who  load  me  with  all  kinds  of  fruits, 
with  pumpkins,  with  mulberries,  with  breads,  with  strawberries 
and  others.  I  kept  making  my  cry  of  Ambassador  while  walk- 
ing, and  seeing  myself  near  the  town,  which  was  scarcely  visible 
to  me,  the  stakes,  the  cabins  and  the  trees  were  so  covered  with 
people.    I  stopped  before  taking  the  first  step  in  entering  the  town. 

He  found  that  the  captives  had  been  treated  with  much  kind- 
ness, and  that  Garakontie'  had  secured  them  every  religious  privi- 
lege possible.  A  bell  called  them  to  public  worship,  which  was 
led  by  one  of  their  best  men.  Lay  baptism  was  practised  and 
much  religious  instruction  given.  Le  Moyne  spent  nearly  a 
year  there  and  elsewhere,  returning  Aug.  31,  1662.  with  the 
remaining  captives,  and  there  was  great  joy  in   Montreal. 

Mr  Shea  said  that  Garakontie',  Sun  that  Advances,  "  was 
apparently  an  orator,  not  a  sachem,  and  not  a  war  chief.  He  is 
not  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  settlement  of  St  Mary  of 
Ganentaha  by  any  of  the  writers  of  that  time,  and  it  is  abso- 
lutely contrary  to  all  authority  to  make  him  the  projector  of 
that  movement."  One  little  circumstance  should  have  shown 
this  eminent  writer  the  error  into  which  he  was  led  by  the  use  of 
Garakontie"s  official  title  for  his  personal  name.  When  Le 
Moyne  drew  near  Onondaga  in  1654,  he  said  he  dined  with  "  the 
nephew  of  the  first  captain  of  the  country,  who  is  to  lodge  me  in 
his  cabin."  In  1661  he  said,  "  We  met  a  captain  named  Gara- 
contie',  who  is  the  one  with  whom  our  fathers  and  I  have  taken 
lodging  every  time  we  have  come  into  this  country."  In  1670 
he  was  distinctly  called  Sagochiendagete',  and  in  1654  it  was 
Sagochiendagehte'.  an  Onondaga  chief,  who  remained  as  a  hos- 
tage at  Montreal.  In  1657  it  was  "  Sagochiendagesite'  who  has 
the  power  and  royal  authority  over  all  the  nation  of  Onontaghe. 
though  he  has  not  the  name  of  it."  In  an  address  toward  the 
close  of  his  life,  the  chief  spoke  of  his  authority,  and  of  the  use 
he  had  always  made  of  it  for  the  public  good.  A  letter  from 
Onondaga  in  1671  speaks  of  him  as  "the  mosl  considerable,  and 
the  chief  of  all  the  Iroquois  nations." 

Another  possible  error  of  Mr  Shea's  may  be  noted  here,  as  it 


214  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

is  connected  with  this  time.  On  his  way  to  Onondaga  Father 
Le  Moyne  met  a  war  party  going  against  the  French,  led  by 
Hotreouate',  better  known  as  Garangula  to  the  readers  of  Golden. 
He  desired  revenge  for  his  imprisonment  at  Montreal.  Soon  after 
a  deputation  of  Onondagas  and  Senecas,  going  to  Montreal,  met 
this  party  returning  with  scalps.  They  had  killed  an  ecclesiastic, 
named  M.  le  Maitre,  and  the  leader  wore  his  black  robe.  The 
deputies  hesitated  about  proceeding  after  this  act,  but  Gara- 
kontie'  went  on  and  was  well  received.  The  Relation  of  1661  dis- 
tinctly says  that  the  priest  was  killed  by  this  Onondaga  chief. 
Air  Shea  said,  giving  no  reason,  "  The  actual  murderer  of  Le 
Maitre,  Hoandoran,  became  a  Christian,  and  died  at  the  Sulpitian 
mission  at  Montreal." 

The  ambassadors  turned  back  an  Oneida  war  party,  and  for 
a  time  the  Iroquois  turned  their  arms  against  the  northern,  south- 
ern and  western  nations.  In  this  year  Schenectady  was  bought 
from  the  Mohawks. 

The  English  now  aided  the  Minquas,  according,  to  report 
placing  50  men  in  their  fort,  but  the  Senecas  killed  many.  In  the 
northwest  80  Iroquois  attacked  30  Attikamegues  and  some 
French,  all  of  whom  died  fighting.  In  1662  the  Mohawks  and 
Oneidas  sent  a  party  against  the  Ottawas,  which  was  defeated  by 
the  Sauteurs,  being  surprised  in  the  midst  of  a  revel,  and  this 
was  long  remembered,  traditionally  giving  name  to  Point  Iro- 
quois near  Sault  Ste  Marie.  On  the  island  of  Montreal  some  Iro- 
quois killed  two  prominent  men.  A  party  which  went  against 
the  Andastes  or  Minquas  met  with  disaster,  the  Black  Minquas 
having  come  to  aid  their  friends.  They  were  so  named  from  their 
black  badges. 

The  English  now  complained  that  the  Mohawks  attacked  the 
Penobscot  Indians  and  that  260  had  built  a  strong  fort  there, 
where  they  stayed  for  two  weeks.  Some  English  cattle  were 
killed,  and  the  English  came  to  Fort  ( )range  about  this.  The 
Mohawks  were  willing  to  give  a  wampum  atonement,  but  would 
not  give  up  their  enptives  and  threatened  to  ravage  Connecticut 
if  the  English  were  not  satisfied.     Governor  Stuyvesant,  whom 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  215 

they  called  Wooden  Leg,  went  to  Fort  Orange  about  this,  pro- 
cured an  accommodation  and  ransomed  some  captives.  They 
were  Kennebecs. 

Governor  d'Avaugour  had  come  to  Canada  in  1661,  and  in  1662 
he  said  "  it  was  politic  to  exaggerate  more  than  ever  the  cruelties 
of  the  Iroquois,  in  order  the  better  to  conceal  the  designs  that 
might  be  adopted  in  this  country  ;  fearing  lest  English  ignorance 
and  Dutch  weakness  might  be  alarmed,  and  have  their  jealousy 
excited." 

The  governor  of  French  Acadia  desired  a  permanent  peace 
between  the  Mohawks  and  northern  Indians.  The  Mohawks 
replied  that  they  had  best  be  left  alone.  The  Mahicans  had  fled 
from  Albany  and  elsewhere,  and  left  their  corn  lands.  As  the 
Dutch  did  not  like  them  to  pass  Fort  Orange,  the  Mohawks  now 
went  to  the  eastern  wars  by  way  of  Cohoes  as  a  rule,  but  a  party 
of  Mohawks,  Onondagas  and  Senecas  passed  through  the  Dutch 
town  in  December  against  the  eastern  Indians,  by  whom  they 
were  defeated. 

In  1663  the  Algonquins  killed  Garistarsia  and  10  of  his  men. 
There  was  a  desperate  struggle  between  Garistarsia,  or  the 
Sword,  and  Gahronho,  a  stalwart  Algonquin  chief.  They 
grappled,  and.  just  as  the  Mohawk  was  about  dealing  a  death 
blow,  a  lucky  chance  changed  the  result  for  the  Algonquin,  and 
the  Mohawk  was  slain. 

That  year  there  were  new  hostilities  at  Esopus,  and  the  aid  of 
the  Mohawks  was  sought  in  recovering  prisoners.  The  Iroquois 
sent  a  large  force  against  the  Minquas,  which  had  poor  success. 
According  to  one  account  the  army  descended  a  great  river  and 
thought  they  would  hud  the  foe  an  easy  prey;  but  the  fort  was 
defended  on  one  side  by  the  river  and  on  the  others  by  strong 
palisades,  with  bastions  and  cannon.  The  Iroquois  then  pro- 
posed sending  25  men  into  the  fort  to  treat  for  peace  and  buy 
provisions  for  their  return.  They  were  admitted,  seized  and 
burned  alive  on  scaffolds  in  the  sight  of  their  helpless  friends. 
The  Andastes  told  the  Iroquois  this  was  but  a  prelude  to  what 
they  would  do  when  they  invaded  their  country.     The  Iroquois 


2l6  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

desired  vengeance,  but  the  smallpox  had  weakened  their  towns 
and  for  a  while  they  could  do  nothing.  This  is  the  French  story. 
Those  near  by  made  light  of  the  affair.  About  this  time  there 
were  prospects  of  peace  between  the  French  and  Iroquois,  but 
the  Hurons  reported  French  preparations  to  destroy  them,  and 
this  broke  off  negotiations. 

In  the  spring  of  1664  Garakontie'  prepared  another  peace 
embassy.  Even  the  Mohawks  wished  peace,  having  on  hand  a 
Mahican  war;  while  the  Andastes  kept  the  upper  Iroquois  busy. 
Among  the  Onondagas  Garakontie'  was  the  prime  mover,  but 
the  Oneidas  took  no  action  at  all.  The  chief  set  out  with  30 
ambassadors  and  100  great  belts.  These  fell  into  an  Algonquin 
ambuscade,  and  all  hopes  of  peace  were  destroyed,  the  Iroquois 
resolving  on  vengeance.  Yet  a  Cayuga  embassy  came  to  Quebec 
Sep.   18,  speaking  for  all  but  the  Oneidas.     AVar  continued. 

That  year  Mohawk  ambassadors  were  killed  by  the  Abena- 
quiois,  or  Kennebecs,  and  the  Mahieans  attacked  the  Mohawks, 
killing  Dutch  cattle  at  Greenbush  and  ravaging  the  east  side  of 
Hudson  river.  The  Senecas  threatened  to  attack  the  Minisinks, 
whom  the  Minquas  would  defend. 

The  first  treat}'  between  the  Iroquois  and  English  in  New  York 
was  made  at  Albany,  Sep.  24,  1664,  and  was  signed  by  four 
Mohawk  chiefs  and  four  nominal  Senecas,  two  of  whom  were 
Onondagas  and  Cayugas.  The  English  were  not  to  aid  the  Xew 
England  Indians,  who  had  murdered  a  Mohawk  chief,  but  peace 
was  to  be  made  with  the   River  Indians.     Golden  said: 

In  1664,  Xew  York  being  taken  by  the  English,  they  immedi- 
ately entered  into  a  Friendship  with  the  Five  Nations  which  has 
continued  without  the  least  Breach  to  this  Day;  and  History,  I 
believe,  can  not  give  an  Instance  of  the  most  Christian  and  mosl 
Catholick  Kings  observing  a  Treaty  so  strictly,  and  for  so  long 
a  Time  as  these    Barbarians,  as  they  are  called,  have  done. 

M.  de  Tracy  came  to  Canada  in    10(15,  and  at  once  built   three 
forts  on  the  River  of  the  Iroquois.     The  king  of  France  resolved 
"  to  carry   war  even   to  their  firesides,   in   order  totally  to  exter 
minate  them,"  if  tiny  did  not  submit,  though  the  English  occu- 
pation of  Xew    York   had  changed   the  situation.     The  regiment 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  2\*J 

of  Carignan-Salieres  came  from  Hungary,  with  laurels  won  from 
the  Turks,  and  was  now  to  oppose  the  Iroquois.  Part  was  to 
protect  the  harvesters  and  the  rest  built  the  forts.  The  Iroquois 
were  at  first  alarmed,  but  soon  recovered  and  used  other  roads. 
An  embassy  led  by  Garakontie'  came  to  Canada  in  October  and 
another  in  December.  At  the  latter  all  but  the  Mohawks  made 
a  treaty  of  peace,  signed  by  the  Bear,  Wolf  and  Turtle  clans. 
They  desired  priests  and  settlers,  and  mourned  Father  Le  Moyne, 
who  died  Nov.  24. 

Governor  de  Courcelle  went  against  the  Mohawks  Jan.  9,  1666, 
with  500  men,  arriving  in  their  country.  Feb.  9,  much  exhausted. 
He  learned  that  most  of  the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas  had  gone  to 
war  with  the  YYampum-makers.  leaving  only  old  people  and  chil- 
dren at  home,  and  even  these  he  was  in  no  condition  to  attack, 
but  lost  some  men  in  a  Mohawk  ambuscade.  He  got  provisions  of 
the  Dutch  and  at  once  returned,  losing  more  men  on  the  way. 
The  Iroquois  were  alarmed,  not  having  thought  invasion  possible, 
and  in  May  the  Senecas  came  and  made  peace,  being  soon  fol- 
lowed by  the  rest.  There  were  hostilities  after  this,  and  Captain 
de  Sorel  went  with  300  men  against  the  Mohawks,  but  met  their 
ambassadors  coming  to  make  amends.  The  trouble  was  this. 
Some  Oneida  deputies  went  to  Canada  in  June  [666,  returning 
with  Father  Beschefer  and  two  Frenchmen,  to  induce  the  Mo- 
hawks and  Oneidas  to  send  deputies  to  a  general  council.  Hardly 
had  they  gone  before  news  came  that  the  Mohawks  had  killed 
some  French  hunters  and  made  others  prisoners,  Captain  de 
Traversy  and  Sieur  de  Chasy  being  killed.  The  French  were  at 
once  recalled  and  the  Oneidas  seized. 

Charlevoix  adds  that  De  Sorel,  on  his  way  to  the  Mohawk- 
towns,  met  a  party  led  by  the  Dutch  Bastard,  but  of  inferior 
force.  The  latter  pretended  he  was  on  a  peace  embassy  and  was 
taken  to  De  Tracy  and  well  received.  Agariata.  another  Mo- 
hawk chief,  came  afterward  and  said  he  was  a  deputy.  At  De 
Tracy's  table 

The  conversation  turning  on  the  death  of  M.  de  Chasy,  the 
Mohawk  chief,  raising  his  arm,  exclaimed  :  "  This  is  the  arm  that 
tomahawked  that  young  officer,"     The  indignation  of  all  present 


2l8  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

may  be  imagined.  The  Viceroy  told  the  insolent  savage  that  he 
would  never  kill  another,  and  had  him  strangled  on  the  spot  by 
the  executioner,  in  the  presence  of  the  Flemish  Bastard,  whom 
he  retained  as  a  prisoner. 

Colden  related  this  differently,  saying  that,  after  peace  was 
made,  some  Mohawks  killed  these  Frenchmen  ;    and 

The  Five  Nations,  to  shew  their  publick  Displeasure  at  this 
Breach  of  Peace,  sent  Agariata,  the  Captain  of  the  Company  that 
did  the  Mischief,  with  forty  others,  to  beg  Pardon  ;  but  Monsieur 
Coursel  was  resolved  to  make  an  example  of  Agariata,  and 
ordered  him  to  be  hanged  in  sight  of  his  Company ;  and  the 
French  think  that  this  Severity  was  a  great  Means  of  preserving 
the  Peace  till  the  Year  1683. 

Most  of  the  others  were  sent  home.  De  Tracy  made  another 
expedition  that  year,  with  1300  men,  rendezvousing  at  Fort  St 
Anne  in  Lake  Champlain,  where  De  Courcelle  preceded  him  with 
400  men.  They  carried  two  cannon.  Mohawk  scouts  gave  the 
alarm  and  every  town  was  abandoned.  The  last  town  was  well 
provisioned  and  strong  enough  for  defense.  This  fort  was  "  a 
triple  palisade,  surrounding  their  stronghold,  twenty  feet  in 
height  and  flanked  by  four  bastions."  Besides  food,  it  had 
"abundant  supplies  of  water  in  bark  tanks."  Oct.  17,  1666,  the 
troops  "  being  drawn  up  in  battle  array  before  the  Fort  of  Anda- 
raque,"  their  commander  "  took  possession  of  said  Fort  and  of  all 
the  lands  in  the  neighborhood  as  far  and  in  as  great  a  quantity 
as  they  may  extend,  and  of  the  other  four  forts  which  have  been 
conquered  from  the  Iroquois."  On  this  act  was  based  part  of 
the  French  claims  to  land  in  New  York. 

Chapter  10 

Peace  made  and  missions  resumed.  Van  Curler  drowned.  Mahicans 
attack  Gandaouague.  Battle  at  Kinquarioones.  Agreskoue  renounced. 
Iroquois  mission  towns  in  Canada.  Senecas  and  Ottawas  at  war.  Bap- 
tism of  Iroquois  chiefs.  Courcelle  visits  Lake  Ontario.  Peace  between 
Mohawks  and  Mahicans.  Count  Frontenac  visits  Lake  Ontario  and 
builds  Fort  Frontenac.  La  Salle.  King  Philip's  war.  Death  of  Gara- 
kontie'.  Hennepin  among  the  Iroquois.  Governor  Andros  visits  the 
Mohawks.  Kryn  removes  to  Canada.  Greenhalgh's  journey.  Cayuga 
villages  in  Canada.  Dekanissora.  War  with  Illinois.  Onondagas 
remove  town.  Iroquois  adopt  captives.  Peace  between  Five  Nations 
and  Maryland. 
These    harsh    measures    produced    a    general    peace,    and    the 

French  missions  were  resumed  in  T667.     Fathers  Jacques  Fremiti 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  2IO, 

and  Jean  Pierron  went  to  the  Mohawks  that  year ;  Father  Jacques 
Bruyas  accompanied  them  and  proceeded  to  Oneida.  Father 
Julien  Gamier  soon  joined  him,  but  went  on  to  Onondaga,  where 
Father  Pierre  Milet  came  to  him  the  next  year.  At  the  same 
time  Father  Etienne  Carheil  resumed  the  work  among  the  Cay- 
ugas  on  Cayuga  lake.  These  had  now  some  villages  north  of 
Lake  Ontario,  which  were  safe  from  the  Andastes.  The  enmity 
between  them  and  that  people  was  great,  and  that  year  four 
Andastes  women  were  burned  at  Oneida  alone. 

Arent  Van  Curler  (Corlaer)  was  drowned  in  1667,  while  on 
his  way  to  Canada.  This  occurred  in  Corlaer's  bay,  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  now  called  the  Bay  of  Perou.  There  was  a  great  rock 
there,  beneath  which  the  Indians  thought  one  of  their  divinities 
dwelt,  and  they  made  offerings  in  passing.  He  ridiculed  this, 
and  the  Indians  thought  his  death  a  retribution  for  his  sarcasm. 
He  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  Mohawks,  and  they  called  the 
governors  of  New  York  after  him. 

In  1668  the  AYappingers  joined  the  Mohawks  against  the  Mahi- 
cans,  300  of  whom  attacked  the  Mohawk  town  of  Gandaouague' 
Aug.  18,  1669,  but  were  repulsed  with  loss.  This  was  the  eastern 
castle,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  The  invaders  were  led  by 
Chickataubutt,  who  was  killed  in  the  attack.  They  were  pur- 
sued and  another  battle  took  place  next  day,  at  a  place  mentioned 
in  a  grant  of  July  3,  1672,  as  "  KINAQUARIONES,  Where 
the  Last  Battel  was  between  the  Mohoakx  and  the  Xorth  [river] 
Indians."     Of  this  Gen.  J.  S.  Clark  said : 

Kinaquariones  is  the  steep  rocky  hill  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Mohawk  river  just  above  Hoffman's  Ferry,  nine  English  (equal 
to  three  Dutch)  miles  west  of  Schenectady.  It  was  the  western 
bounds  of  the  original  Schenectady  patent,  and  now  forms  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  county  of  Montgomery.  The  ancient 
aboriginal  name  is  still  preserved  in  the  contracted  form  of 
Towereoune.  The  palisaded  castle  Gandaouague',  at  the  date  of 
this  assault,  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk,  on  the  west 
bank  of  Cayadutta  creek,  on  a  high  plateau  known  locally  as  the 
Sand  Flats.  .  .  This  village  was  for  a  time  the  residence  of 
Tegakwita,  the  Iroquois  saint,  and  of  the  great  Kryn,  one  of  the 
most  valiant  among  the  many  famous  Mohawk  warriors. 


220  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

In  their  turn  the  Mohawks  became  the  invaders,  but  were 
unsuccessful,  though  aided  by  other  Iroquois.  On  account  of 
their  present  loss,  a  condolence  was  held  with  them,  which  has 
been  confused  with  the  Dead  Feast  of  the  Hurons,  to  which  it 
bore  no  likeness.  Father  Pierron  was  present  and  interrupted  the 
ceremony,  which  he  did  not  understand.  The  result  was  that 
he  induced  the  Mohawks  to  renounce  the  worship  of  Agreskoue'. 
A  similar  renunciation  of  the  old  worship  was  soon  made  at 
Onondaga,  but  was  never  very  thorough.  From  that  time  till 
the  preaching  of  the  new  religion  about  1800,  the  religious  belief 
of  the  Iroquois  was  of  a  very  hazy  kind.  Through  all  their 
earlier  history  their  faith  in  dreams  was  unlimited. 

The  mission  of  St  Francis  Xavier  a  la  Prairie  de  la  Magdeliene 
was  founded  near  Montreal  in  1669,  as  a  refuge  for  the  Christian 
Iroquois  desirous  of  escaping  the  temptations  of  their  old  homes. 
This  was  done  by  Catharine  Gandiaktena,  born  in  the  Erie  town 
of  Gentaieton,  but  carried  to  Oneida  and  married  there.  She 
went  to  La  Prairie  with  12  others,  and  this  led  to  the  removal 
of  many  Christian  Iroquois  to  Canada.  Other  Canadian  mission 
towns  followed,  attracting  people  from  their  old  homes  and  seri- 
ously diminishing  their  strength.  The  chiefs  were  alarmed  and 
indignant.  The  Jesuits  boasted  that  they  had  thus  secured  200 
brave  Iroquois  soldiers  for  the  French,  and  still  had  eight  chapels 
in  New  York  in  1674.  To  conduct  these  properly,  they  arranged 
a  uniform  scheme  of  missions  in  1669. 

Fremin  and  Gamier  went  to  Onondaga  Aug.  26,  1669,  and  that 
day  La  Salle  landed  at  Irondequoit  bay,  led  there  by  Seneca 
reports  of  a  great  river  flowing  southward  from  them.  Dollier 
and  Gallinee  went  to  the  mission  with  him,  remaining  quite  a 
time,  and  visited  and  described  the  burning  spring  as  well  as  the 
town.  In  September  they  stopped  a  while  at  the  Iroquois  village 
of  Tinawatawa,  near  the  extreme  western  end  of  Lake  Ontario. 
That  year  Indian  murders  led  to  a  close  union  between  all  the 
River  Indians  and  the  Iroquois. 

In  1670  the  Senecas  captured  100  women  and  children  near  the 
Ottawas,   and   exposed   Iroquois  cabins  were   attacked   in   turn. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  221 

This  roused  the  Senecas,  who  resented  a  proposed  French  arbi- 
tration ;  but  Garakontie'  prevailed  and  peace  was  restored.  That 
eminent  chief  was  baptized  and  confirmed  by  Bishop  de  Petree 
in  the  cathedral  at  Quebec  that  year.  Governor  de  Courcelle  was 
his  godfather,  and  Mile  Boutroiiee,  daughter  of  the  intendant,  his 
godmother.  After  being  conducted  to  the  chateau,  "  at  his  first 
entrance  he  saw  himself  saluted  by  a  discharge  of  all  the  cannon 
of  the  fort,  and  of  all  the  musketry  of  the  soldiers  who  were 
ranged  to  receive  him."     A  banquet  and  speeches  followed. 

Saonchiogwa  was  baptized  soon  after,  being  a  Cayuga  chief, 
friendly  to  the  French  from  the  first.  He  restored  some  of  the 
Ottawa  prisoners.  Father  Carheil  was  now  in  charge  of  the 
Cayuga  mission  and  composed  hymns  and  devotions  in  that  lan- 
guage. When  the  town  was  in  danger  of  assault  by  the  Andastes, 
he  won  the  hearts  of  all  by  taking  his  turn  as  sentinel.  At  this 
time  there  were  Huron  catechists  among  the  Senecas,  and  a 
Seneca  dictionary  was  in  progress. 

Governor  de  Courcelle  took  prompt  action  on  the  murder  of 
Indians  in  1670,  calling  a  council  at  Montreal  and  punishing  the 
offenders  before  the  Indians.  This  prevented  trouble.  He  for- 
bade war  between  the  Ottawas  and  Iroquois,  which  the  Senecas 
resented.  That  year  he  ascended  the  river  to  Lake  Ontario, 
alarming  the  Iroquois  much  by  this  simple  act.  At  that  time 
the  Iroquois  had  to  go  north  of  that  lake  for  beaver  and  carried 
it  all  to  the  Dutch. 

In  1672  peace  was  formally  made  at  Albany  between  the  Mo- 
hawks and  Mahicans.  The  Onondagas  had  been  quite  successful 
against  the  Andastes;  but  this  year  some  young  warriors  of  that 
nation  totally  defeated  Seneca  and  Cayuga  parties  on  Cayuga 
lake.  In  spite  of  their  bravery,  the  great  contest  was  now 
unequal  and  the  downfall  of  the  Andastes  soon  followed. 

Count  Frontenac  went  up  the  St  Lawrence  to  Lake  Ontario 
in  July  1673,  holding  a  council  with  the  Iroquois  near  the  site 
of  Kingston  July  13,  and  founding  Fort  Frontenac,  called  Cada- 
raqui  by  the  Onondagas  and  English.  Garakontie'  spoke,  being 
classed    among   the   60   influential    sachems   present.     The    next 


222  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

year  Frontenac  informed  Colbert  "  that,  if  the  principal  chiefs 
had  not  been  gained  by  his  flatteries  and  presents,  not  a  single 
Frenchman  would  have  been  left  in  Canada."  He  certainly  did 
everything  possible  on  this  occasion,  paying  special  attention  to 
the  women  and  children. 

In  connection  with  this  trip  La  Salle  was  several  times  at 
Onondaga  that  year,  and  Father  Lamberville  wrote  of  meeting 
him  at  the  foot  of  Oneida  lake  Sep.  9,  1673.  He  there  heard 
that  the  Dutch  again  held  New  York.  Some  Mohawk  chiefs 
visited  Governor  Colve  at  Fort  Wilhelm  Hendrick  May  19,  1O74, 
who  were  from  Kaghenewage'  and  Kanagaro.  They  had  made 
a  new  treaty  with  the  Dutch  the  year  before. 

King  Philip's  war  was  now  raging ;  and  he  is  doubtfully  said 
to  have  visited  the  Mohawks  in  1675,  but  without  securing  their 
aid.  He  is  also  said  to  have  murdered  some  of  their  stragglers, 
hoping  it  would  be  laid  to  the  English  ;  but  the  trick  was  dis- 
covered, and  the  Mohawks  became  his  worst  foes.  It  is  only 
certain  that  in  February  1676,  a  party  of  300  Mohawks  did  go 
from  Albany  and  defeated  Philip  not  far  away.  When  attacked 
by  the  English  near  Deerfield  Mass.,  his  followers  tied,  crying, 
"  Mohawks!  Mohawks!  "  so  great  was  their  fear  of  them. 

Garakontie'  died  at  Onondaga  soon  after  Christmas  1675,  having 
been  head  chief  of  the  Onondagas  and  Iroquois  for  many  years. 
He  left  this  message:  "  Write  to  the  Governor  that  he  loses  the 
best  servant  he  has  in  the  cantons  of  the  Iroquois."  Father 
Lamberville  wrote  a  pathetic  account  o\  his  death  and  burial, 
making  his  coffin  and  performing  the  funeral  rites  himself.  A 
large  cross  marked  his  grave  in  the  present  town  of  Pompey. 
For  more  than  a  score  of  years  he  had  been  known  as  the  friend 
and  father  of  the  French,  both  in  peace  and  war.  His  brother 
took  his  name  but  not  his  n^icc,  serving  the  French  in  a  quieter 
\\a\    and  dying  in    1702.      The  two  have   been   confused. 

Father  Hennepin  came  to  Canada  in  [675  and  at  once  took  up 
mission  work,  being  part  of  the  time  at  the  Cayuga  villages  north 
of  Lake  Ontario.  Fond  of  adventure,  after  a  while  he  wanted  to 
know  more  of  the  Iroquois,  and  said: 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  223 

1  accordingly  went  among  them  with  one  of  our  soldiers  from 
said  fort,  [Frontenac]  making  a  journey  of  about  seventy  leagues, 
and  both  having  large  snowshoes  on  our  feet,  on  account  of  the 
snow,  which  is  abundant  in  that  country  during  winter.  I  had 
some  little  knowledge  of  the  Iroquois  language.  We  then  passed 
on  to  the  Honnchiouts  Iroquois,  and  the  Honnontagez,  who 
received  us  very  well.  This  nation  is  the  most  warlike  of  all 
the  Iroquois.  At  last  we  arrived  at  the  Gannickez  Agniez.  This 
is  one  of  Five  Iroquois  Nations,  situated  a  good  day's  journey 
from  the  neighborhood  of  New  Xetherland.  We  remained  some 
time  among  this  last  named  nation,  and  were  lodged  with  a  Jesuit 
Father,  born  in  Lyons,  in  order  to  transcribe  a  little  Iroquois 
dictionary. 

In  August  1675,  Gov.  Edmund  Andros  went  to  the  warlike 
Indians  nearly  100  miles  beyond  Albany  and  allies  of  the  English. 
This  trip  was  really  to  the  farthest  Mohawk  town.  The  next 
year  Andros  said  that  King  Philip's  war  might  have  been  pre- 
vented had  not  the  Boston  people  scorned  his  advice.  He  would 
have  engaged  the  Mohawks  and  others  to  fall  on  Philip.  As  it 
was,  he  kept  them  from  helping  him. 

In  1675,  also,  the  Senecas  wished  to  exterminate  the  Susque- 
hannas,  or  Andastes,  but  the  Mohawks  said  they  were  their 
brothers  and  children  and  might  live  with  them.  At  this  time 
powder  and  lead  were  sold  only  to  the  Iroquois.  There  was  a 
story  that  they  killed  Canonicus,  the  Xarragansett  chief. 

There  came  a  difficulty  between  the  Iroquois  and  Maryland, 
which  Andros  aided  in  settling.  That  province  complained  of 
Seneca  depredations;  but  Andros  thought  both  Mohawks  and 
Senecas  were  good  friends  of  the  English.  At  the  time  the  treaty 
of  1677  was  made,  some  Oneidas,  Onondagas  and  Senecas  had 
gone  south  and  killed  some  Susquehannas,  taking  prisoners,  not 
knowing  of  the  peace.  Part  of  these  were  restored,  but  there 
were  many  such  troubles  from  time  to  time.  Two  commission- 
ers were  sent  to  Albany  about  this  and  reproved  the  Onondagas 
and  Oneidas,  but  thought  two  nations  not  to  blame.  The  Cay- 
ugas  made  trouble,  and  Golden  thought  the  French  priests  the 
cause. 

The  Mohawks  met  with  a  serious  loss  in  the  spring  of  1676. 


224  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

The  wife  of  Kryn,  often   called  the   Great   Mohawk,  became  a 

Christian,  and  he  was  indignant.  While  hunting,  he  came  to 
La  Prairie,  and  its  peace  and  order  impressed  him  much.  He 
became  an  inquirer  and  convert,  and  at  last  brought  a  band  of 
his  people  there  in  1674;  reaching  there  with  another  party  on 
Easter  Sunday  1676.  The  next  year  he  was  followed  by  Catha- 
rine Tegahkwita,  the  Iroquois  saint,  who  died  there  in  1680,  and 
who  is  still  in  high  repute  for  her  virtues  and  austerity  of  life. 
In  reporting  his  action  on  the  treaty  of  1677,  Andros  wrote  : 

The  latter  end  of  August  the  Governor  having  sent  two  Chris- 
tians to  the  farthest  nations  of  Indyans,  and  Orders  to  meett  Coll. 
Coursey,  sent  as  Embassadour  from  Maryland  to  treat  with  said 
Indyans;  the  Governor  went  also  to  Albany  to  receive  any 
addresses,  or  whatt  they  might  have  to  say  to  him.  Coll. 
Coursey  hadd  answers  to  his  satisfaction. 

This  was  the  famous  journey  of  Wentworth  Greenhalgh  "  from 
Albany  to  ye  Indians,  westward ;  begun  May  20th,  1677,  and 
ended  July  ye  14  following."  Its  object  does  not  appear  in  the 
journal,  nor  is  the  name  of  his  companion  mentioned.  They 
went  on  horseback.  The  Mohawks  then  had  four  fortified  towns 
and  one  small  village.  The  towns  were  Cahaniaga,  Canagora, 
Canajorha  and  Tionondague.  In  these  were  about  300  warriors, 
occupying  100  houses. 

The  Oneidas  had  a  town  20  (2  ?)  miles  from  Oneida  creek.  In 
this  fort  were  100  houses  and  200  warriors.  The  Onondagas  had 
one  large  unwalled  town  of  140  houses  and  a  village  of  24  cabins 
2  miles  away.  The  warriors  numbered  350.  Three  unwalled 
Cayuga  towns  had  100  houses  and  300  warriors.  The  Senecas 
had  four  unwalled  towns,  with  324  houses  and  iooo  warriors. 
The  towns  were  Canagora,  Tiotohatton,  Canoenada  and  Keinthe; 
but  other  writers  give  different  names. 

About  this  time  came  changes  in  the  Iroquois  missions  in 
Canada.  The  Cayuga  villages  near  the  Bay  of  Quinte  had  most 
of  their  mission  work  transferred  to  the  island  of  Montreal  in 
1676.  Some  Iroquois  came  from  New  York  and  some  from 
Caughnawaga,  forming  the  Mission  of  the  Mountain  the  same 
year,  and  some  Senecas   arrived   later.      That  year  La  Prairie 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  225 

was  abandoned,  and  a  new  village  grew  up,  ever  since  called 
Caughnawaga  by  the  Indians  and  English.  The  French  knew 
it  as  St  Francois  Xavier  du  Sault.  One  of  the  converts  at  La 
Prairie  was  an  Oneida  chief,  called  Ogeratarihen  or  Garon- 
hiague',  who  had  witnessed  Brebeuf's  death.  There  were  many 
Oneidas  in  the  newer  mission,  which  had  several  chiefs,  dividing 
the  civil  and  religious  affairs. 

In  1677  a  party  of  80  Mohawks  robbed  some  Mahicans  in  New 
England,  and  others  routed  some  of  Uncas's  men.  They  were 
ordered  not  to  send  parties  against  eastern  Indians,  but  did 
not  comply. 

Dekanissora,  the  great  Onondaga  orator,  began  to  be  promi- 
nent in  1678,  at  that  time  taking  his  grandfather's  name  of 
Niregouentaron,  though  hardly  known  by  this.  He  was  speaker 
at  Montreal  in  1682  and  spoke  last  at  Albany  in  1724.  His 
appearance  and  abilities  have  been  often  eulogized.  Colden 
said  of  him : 

He  was  grown  old  when  I  saw  him,  and  heard  him  speak ;  he 
had  a  great  Fluency  in  speaking,  and  a  graceful  Elocution,  that 
would  have  pleased  in  any  part  of  the  World.  His  Person  was 
tall  and  well  made,  and  his  Features,  to  my  thinking,  resembled 
much  the  Busts  of  Cicero. 

Though  long  faithful  to  the  English,  for  some  reason  Governor 
Burnet  thought  him  in  the  French  interest  later  in  life.  He 
ceased  to  be  speaker  and  died  in  Canada. 

In  1678  the  adventurous  La  Salle  occupied  Niagara,  and 
launched  the  Griffon  in  the  spring  of  1679  for  the  navigation  of 
Lake  Erie.     It  was  soon  wrecked. 

Beside  complaints  about  the  Senecas  in  Maryland,  the  New 
Englanders  complained  of  the  Mohawks  in  1678,  and  hoped 
Andros  might  persuade  them  to  send  back  their  Indian  captives. 
About  the  southern  troubles,  "  ye  oneides  deemed  ye  first  nation 
of  sineques,"  were  at  first  insolent,  but  at  last  they  and  the  Onon- 
dagas  promised  to  send  no  more  parties. 

The  Mohawks  were  quiet  in  1680,  but  the  Onondagas  and 
Senecas  continued  to  send  bands  against  the  Illinois  in  spite 
of  French  remonstrances.     They  had  burned  one  of  their  towns 


226  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

and  taken  over  600  prisoners,  mostly  women  and  children.  De 
Tonty  was  wounded  and  a  Recollect  friar  killed.  The  Miamis 
feared  the  Iroquois  so  much  that  they  got  the  Illinois  to  seek 
an  accommodation.  The  Iroquois  justified  the  war  against  the 
latter.  It  began  20  years  before,  and  the  vanquished  Illinois  left 
the  country.  Then  the  Iroquois  carried  on  the  war  against  the 
Andastes  vigorously  and  subdued  them.  Meantime  the  Illinois 
returned  and  killed  40  Iroquois  as  they  wrent  to  hunt  beaver  in  the 
abandoned  country.  War  followed,  and  La  Salle  unwisely 
increased  the  difficulty.  The  Illinois  again  fled,  and  the  Iro- 
quois pursued  them  to  the  Mississippi,  killing  and  capturing 
hundreds.  They  were  busy  elsewhere.  In  1680  the  Massa- 
chusetts commissioners  said  the  Mohawks  had  killed  or  captured 
60  of  their  friendly  Indians  in  three  years. 

Till  1681  Onondaga  had  been  at  various  places  near  Lime- 
stone creek,  but  in  that  year  it  was  removed  to  a  new  site  west 
of  this,  on  Butternut  creek.  Though  such  removals  were  fre- 
quent, Father  Lamberville's  account  of  this  one  is  unique.  He 
said : 

On  my  arrival  I  found  the  Iroquois  of  this  village  occupied  in 
transporting  their  corn,  their  effects  and  their  cabins  to  a  place 
2  leagues  distant  from  their  former  residence,  where  they  had 
dwelt  for  19  years.  They  make  this  change  in  order  to  have  there 
their  firewood  in  convenient  proximity,  and  to  secure  fields  more 
fertile  than  those  that  were  abandoned.  This  is  not  done  without 
difficulty;  for,  inasmuch  as  carts  are  not  used  here,  and  the 
country  is  very  hilly,  the  labor  of  the  men  and  women,  who  carry 
their  goods  on  their  backs,  is  consequently  harder  and  of  longer 
duration.  To  supply  the  lack  of  horses  the  inhabitants  of  these 
forests  render  reciprocal  aid  to  one  another,  so  that  a  single  fam- 
ily will  hire  sometimes  80  or  100  persons;  and  these  are  in  turn 
obliged  to  render  the  same  service  to  those  who  may  require  it 
from  them,  or  they  are  freed  from  the  obligation  by  giving  food 
to  those  whom  they  have  employed. 

In  September  1681  some  Kiskakons  captured  a  Seneca,  who 
was  killed  by  Illinois  visitors  in  their  village  near  Michilimacki- 
nac.  This  alarmed  the  Ottawas,  who  feared  utter  destruction 
and  appealed  to  the  French.  The  western  Indians  came  to  Mon- 
treal on  this  business  in  1682,  and  the  Iroquois  were  invited  there. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  22*J 

Dekanissora  said  they  were  going  to  fight  the  Illinois  but  not  the 
others,  and  Frontenac  asked  for  a  general  council  the  next  year. 
He  did  not  favor  holding  this  at  La  Famine.  At  a  conference 
between  him,  the  Kiskakons,  Hurons  and  others,  the  Kiskakons 
were  not  disposed  to  cover  the  grave  of  Annenhac,  the  Seneca 
chief,  which  was  necessary  to  insure  peace. 

In  September  1682  Dekanissora  wished  Frontenac  to  meet  the 
Iroquois  at  Ochoueguen  (Oswego),  the  first  mention  of  that 
place  by  name,  though  the  river  was  thus  known  earlier.  This 
was  refused.  Farther  west  the  Iroquois  plundered  some  French 
canoes.  Father  Lamberville  wrote  from  Onondaga  Sep.  22  that 
Dekanissora  "  loves  the  French ;  but  neither  he  nor  any  other  of 
the  Upper  Iroquois  fears  them  in  the  least,  and  they  are  all  ready 
to  pounce  upon  Canada  on  the  first  provocation."  They  were 
gaining  men.  "  They  have  reinforced  themselves  during  this  and 
the  preceding  year  by  more  than  Nine  hundred  warriors."  La 
Salle  now  abandoned  Fort  Frontenac,  but  it  was  soon  occupied 
again. 

That  year  a  peace  treaty  was  made  at  Albany  between  the  Iro- 
quois and  Maryland.  The  commissioner  said  the  leader  of  the 
depredating  party  was  certainly  an  Onondaga.  The  Onondagas 
replied  that  both  leaders  were  killed,  but  made  satisfaction. 

Chapter  11 

De  la  Barre  at  La  Famine.  Onondaga  speaker  there.  Governor  Dongan 
and  Susquehanna  lands.  Iroquois  captives  for  French  galleys.  Influ- 
ence of  Iroquois.  Lamberville.  English  traders  go  west.  De  Non- 
ville's  treachery.  Destruction  of  Seneca  towns.  Post  at  Niagara. 
Illinois  subdued.  Plan  for  destroying  Iroquois.  Hotreouate'  and 
Adario.  Embassy  surprised.  Bloody  war.  Capture  of  Milet.  Iroquois 
depredations.  Return  of  Frontenac.  Schenectady  destroyed.  English 
at  the  Onondaga  council.     Blacksmiths. 

Count  Frontenac  was  replaced  by  Governor  de  la  Barre  in 
1682,  and  the  latter  was  instructed  to  invade  the  Iroquois  country 
if  advisable,  and  prevent  their  attacking  the  Illinois  and  others. 
Hence  came  his  disastrous  attempt  two  years  later.  In  May 
1683  it  was  reported  that  500  Iroquois  had  gone  west  to  attack 
the  Ottawas  and  seize  Michilimackinac.  They  were  to  be  joined 
by  300  others,  but  found  the  post  too  strong.      That  year  the 


228  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Senecas  reinforced  themselves  with  150  prisoners  and  hoped  for 
more  by  a  war  in  Virginia.  Though  all  looked  warlike,  an  Iro- 
quois delegation  of  43  chiefs  came  to  Montreal  in  August,  when 
the  Senecas  said  the  Illinois  must  die,  and  De  la  Barre  was  silent. 
The  missionaries  began  to  leave  the  New  York  towns.  Fremin, 
Pierron  and  Gamier  retired  in  1683 ;  Carheil  was  driven  from 
Cayuga  in  1684;  Milet  left  Oneida  the  same  year;  and  Jean  de 
Lamberville  alone  remained  at  Onondaga,  doing  good  work  for 
the  French,  for  his  influence  was  great. 

War  with  the  Senecas  seemed  imminent  in  1684.  De  la  Barre 
seized  a  Seneca  deputy  and  his  attendants,  and  made  great  prepa- 
rations for  subduing  that  nation,  they  having  captured  French 
trading  boats.  Garakontie'  2  spoke  at  Onondaga,  turning  the 
musket  against  the  Shawnees,  but  the  French  might  protect  the 
Miamis  if  they  would.  Hotreouate',  otherwise  La  Grande  Gueule, 
or  Grangula,  favored  the  French,  who  made  him  many  presents. 
The  great  Cayuga  chief,  Oreaouhe',  was  going  to  Montreal  to  talk 
matters  over. 

De  la  Barre  took  nearly  900  men  up  the  river,  most  of  them 
going  as  far  as  La  Famine,  and  there  and  at  Fort  Frontenac 
many  became  sick.  A  few  Onondagas  came  to  meet  him ;  and 
there  occurred  his  famous  conference  with  Hotreouate',  called 
Grangula  by  La  Hontan  and  Garangula  by  Colden,  both  corrup- 
tions of  his  French  name  of  La  Grande  Gueule,  or  Big  Mouth. 
This  may  have  come  from  his  oratory  or  his  love  of  good  living. 
Jean  de  Lamberville  said  he  had  "  the  strongest  head  and  loudest 
voice  among  the  Iroquois."  M.  de  Meulles  called  him  a  "  syco- 
phant who  seeks  merely  a  good  dinner,"  but  added  that  he 
"fooled  the  General  in  a  most  shameful  manner."  La  Hontan, 
who  was  present  and  whose  account  agrees  with  all  the  circum- 
stances, gives  us  a  favorable  impression.  De  la  Barre  was  at 
one  end  of  the  hollow  square,  the  chief  and  his  followers  at  the 
oilier,  the  French  opening  the  council  with  a  speech.  La  Hon 
'.hi   said: 

\\  hile  Mr  de  la  liarre's  interpreter  pronounced  this  harangue, 
the  Grangula  did  nothing,  but  looked  upon  the  end  of  his  pipe. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  229 

After  the  speech  was  finished,  he  rose,  and  having  took  five  or 
six  turns  in  the  ring  that  the  French  and  the  savages  made,  he 
returned  to  his  place,  and  standing  upright,  spoke  after  the  fol- 
lowing manner  to  the  General,  who  sat  in  his  chair  of  state. 

Then  followed  that  strain  of  dignified  sarcasm  which  has  never 
been  surpassed.  He  knew  the  condition  of  the  French,  and  it 
was  idle  to  say  so  many  soldiers  were  on  an  errand  of  peace. 
Sickness  had  fortunately  saved  their  lives.  The  sun  had  not  dried 
up  the  swamps  which  made  the  Iroquois  towns  inaccessible  to 
the  French.  "  Our  Children  and  old  Men  had  carried  their  Bows 
and  Arrows  into  the  Heart  of  your  Camp,  if  our  Warriors  had 
not  disarmed  them  and  kept  them  back."  They  had  plundered 
the  French  who  carried  warlike  munitions  to  their  foes.  It  was 
a  proper  act  of  self-defense,  but  "  Our  Warriors  have  not  Beavers 
enough  to  pay  for  all  these  Arms  that  they  have  taken,  and  our 
old  Men  are  not  afraid  of  the  War."  They  would  trade  with 
whom  they  chose.  "  We  are  born  free,  we  neither  depend  on 
Onnondio  or  Corlaer.  We  may  go  where  we  please,  and  carry 
with  us  whom  we  please,  and  buy  and  sell  what  we  please.  If 
your  Allies  be  your  Slaves,  use  them  as  such." 

De  la  Barre  was  enraged  but  powerless  ;  and  Colden  said  that 
this  great  expedition  "  ended  in  a  Scold  between  the  French 
General  and  an  old  Indian."  The  Illinois  were  abandoned  to 
their  fate,  and  the  French  army  ingloriously  returned. 

Governor  Dongan  was  already  in  New  York  and  had  some- 
thing to  say  on  these  affairs,  though  not  always  wisely;  and 
Arnold  Viele,  his  deputy  at  Onondaga,  offended  the  chiefs  by  his 
words.  He  put  the  king's  arms  on  all  the  Iroquois  castles  and 
the  French  said  he  promised  them  aid.  Governor  Dongan  did 
another  effective  but  doubtful  thing,  persuading  the  (  )nondagas 
and  Cayugas  to  place  their  Susquehanna  lands  under  the  king's 
protection,  lest  Penn's  agents  should  secure  them.  They  said 
that  by  conquest  these  lands  belonged  to  them  alone  and  they 
fastened  them  to  New  York.  Acting  ostensibly  for  the  public 
good  and  against   Penn,  be  yet  wrote  to  him  Oct.  22,  1683: 

All  business  here  goes  on  to  great  Satisfaction;  the  Sesque- 
hannok  River  is  given  me  by  the  Indians  by  a  second  gift,  about 


230  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

which  you  and  I  shall  not  fall  out;  I  desire  we  may  Joyne  heart- 
ily together  to  advance  the  Interest  of  my  Master  and  your  good 
Friend;  I  expect  to  hear  from  you,  how  you  would  have  me 
proceed. 

Jan.  13,  1696,  for  £100  he  granted  the  Indian  lands  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna to  William  Penn,  "  which  the  said  Thos.  Dongan  lately 
purchased  of,  or  had  given  to  him  by  the  Sennica  Susquehanah 
Indians." 

One  feature  of  De  la  Barre's  mission  should  not  be  overlooked, 
as  it  was  acted  on  later.  In  writing  to  him  about  the  proposed 
war  in  1684,  Louis  14  said : 

As  it  tends  to  the  good  of  my  servants  to  diminish,  as  much  as 
possible  the  numbers  of  the  Iroquois,  and  moreover,  as  these 
savages,  who  are  very  strong  and  robust,  will  serve  usefully  in 
my  galleys,  I  will  that  you  do  everything  in  your  power  to  make 
a  great  number  of  them  prisoners  of  war,  and  have  them  em- 
barked by  every  opportunity  that  will  offer,  in  order  that  they 
be  conveyed  to  France. 

Throughout  this  affair  the  Senecas  had  been  defiant  and  all 
the  Iroquois  had  carried  their  points.  The  result  was  that,  after 
De  la  Barre's  return,  40  Onondagas  went  at  once  against  the 
Illinois.  They  had  told  him  that  "  the  entire  Iroquois  nation 
reserved  to  itself  the  power  of  waging  war  against  the  Illinois, 
as  long  as  a  single  one  of  them  should  remain  on  earth."  De  la 
Barre  had  already  complained  of  the  attack  on  Fort  St  Louis  in 
Illinois  in  the  spring  and  of  the  plundering  of  French  canoes, 
but  without  avail. 

King  Louis  was  displeased  at  De  la  Barre's  abandonment  of 
the  Illinois  and  sent  De  Nonville  to  take  his  place  in  1685.  He 
was  to  aid  the  Illinois  and  humble  the  Iroquois.  A  new  trouble 
came.  For  purposes  of  trade  both  the  English  and  Iroquois 
were  desirous  of  an  alliance  with  the  Ottawas.  A  French  soldier 
saw  11  English  trading  canoes  going  west,  guided  by  French 
deserters.  They  reached  the  Ottawas  that  year  for  the  first  time, 
crossing  Lake  Eric  to  do  so.  Desertions  of  French  soldiers  were 
frequent,  and  about  that  time  the  Onondagas  sent  back  five  who 
had  come  there  from  Fort  Frontenac. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  2$I 

At  Albany  Aug.  2,  1684,  the  Onondagas  and  Cayugas  made 
proposals  to  Governor  Howard  of  Virginia  and  Governor  Dongan. 
They  called  the  former  by  a  name  derived  from  his  own,  Asha- 
regowa,  or  Big  Knife.  As  provinces,  Virginia  was  Aragiske,  and 
Maryland,  Jaquokranaegare.  To  the  Duke  of  York  they  gave 
sovereignty  over  their  Susquehanna  lands  above  Washinta  or  the 
falls.     They  said : 

Wee  have  putt  all  our  land  and  our  selfs  under  the  Protection  of 
the  great  Duke  of  York,  the  brother  of  your  great  Sachim;  We 
have  given  the  Susquehanne  River  which  we  wonn  with  the 
sword  to  this  Government  and  desire  that  it  may  be  a  branch  of 
that  great  tree  that  grows  here. 

In  1686  the  Iroquois  were  still  seeking  the  Ottawa  alliance  as 

agents  for  English  traders.     Governor  Dongan  had  a  sense  of 

Iroquois  importance : 

The  five  Indian  Nations  are  the  most  warlike  people  in 
America,  &  a  bulwark  between  us  &  the  French  &  all  other 
Indians.  .  .  All  the  Indians  in  these  parts  of  America  are 
Tributareys  to  them. 

Colden  said  of  the  tribute  paid  them : 

Two  old  Men  commonly  go  about  every  Year  or  two,  to  receive 
this  Tribute ;  and  I  have  often  had  Opportunity  to  observe  what 
Anxiety  the  poor  Indians  were  under,  while  these  two  old  Men 
remained  in  that  Part  of  the  Country  where  I  was.  An  old 
Mohawk  Sachem,  in  a  poor  Blanket  and  a  dirty  Shirt,  may  be 
seen  issuing  his  Orders  with  as  arbitrary  an  Authority,  as  a 
Roman  Dictator. 

Regarding  the  proposed  intercourse  with  the  Ottawas,  Charle- 
voix said :  "  Nothing  was  fraught  with  greater  danger  than  this 
opening  of  trade  between  New  York  and  the  nations  whom  we 
had  till  now  regarded  as  our  most  faithful  allies."  Father  Lam- 
berville  had  been  away  from  Onondaga  for  a  short  time,  and  De 
Nonville  sent  him  back  with  presents.  It  was  high  time,  for 
Governor  Dongan's  men  had  been  busy  and  the  Onondagas  were 
suspicious  and  angry.     Charlevoix  said  : 

His  presence  in  a  moment  changed  the  face  of  affairs.  He 
spoke  to  the  chiefs  with  that  frankness  and  that  insinuating  man- 
ner that  had  won  him  the  esteem  and  affection  of  that  nation; 
he  dispelled  almost  all  the  suspicions  that  had  been  instilled  into 
them. 


232  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

In  that  year  20  English  trading  canoes  passed  Oswego  Falls, 
going  west,  and  200  Senecas  went  against  the  Miamis.  There 
was  a  good  deal  of  spicy  correspondence  between  Dongan  and 
De  Nonville.  In  1686  the  latter  wrote:  "Think  yon,  Sir,  that 
Religion  will  make  any  progress  whilst  your  Merchants  will 
supply,  as  they  do,  Eau  de  Vic  in  abundance?  "  To  which  Dongan 
replied :  "  Certainly  our  Rum  doth  as  little  hurt  as  your  Brandy, 
and  in  the  opinion  of  Christians  is  much  more  wholesome."  So 
both  gave  the  Indians  all  they  wanted. 

All  this  time  De  Nonville  regarded  war  as  certain  and  prepared 
for  it  more  prudently  than  honorably.  The  details  of  his  treach- 
ery are  somewhat  confused,  but  that  they  were  disreputable, 
there  is  no  question.  He  employed  Father  Jean  de  Lamberville 
to  draw  the  Iroquois  chiefs  to  Fort  Frontenac,  intending  to  hold 
them  prisoners,  as  he  did,  but  said,  "  the  poor  Father,  however, 
knows  nothing  of  our  designs,"  and  left  him  to  his  fate.  The 
Onondagas  were  more  merciful.  Knowing  that  he  was  incapable 
of  such  treachery,  the  chiefs  and  old  men  came  quietly  to  him, 
told  him  of  the  situation  and  their  opinion,  and  sent  him  away, 
safely  guarded,  to  the  French,  fearing  the  violence  of  the  young- 
men.     Charlevoix  ascribed  this  considerate  act  to  Garakontie'  2. 

The  Iroquois  chiefs  visited  the  Cayuga  towns  west  of  Fort 
Frontenac  before  coming  there,  and  60  men  were  seized  and 
imprisoned  at  the  fort.  According  to  La  Hontan,  they  were  ill- 
treated  and  had  much  sympathy  from  the  French.  De  Nonville 
sent  13  of  them  to  France  as  galley  slaves,  following  the  advice 
given  to  De  la  Barre;  but  King  Louis  returned  them,  sending 
Count  Frontenac  as  governor,  and  the  latter  may  have  showed 
him  that  the  act  was  impolitic.  Oreaoue'  and  another  Cayuga 
chief  were  captured  on  the  St  Lawrence  before  this,  but  the 
former  came  back  with  Frontenac  and  became  so  attached  to 
him  that   lie  took   the   French  side  in  council  and   held. 

De  Nonville  followed  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Ontario 
unopposed,  his  large  army  being  in  boats.  Among  others,  he 
had  too  [roquois  of  the  Sault  and  of  the  Mountain  with  him. 
Garonhiague'    led    the     former,    and    Tegaretwan    the    latter,    both 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  233 

being  killed  in  this  campaign.  Kryn,  the  Great  Mohawk,  was 
with  them.  Most  of  these  Iroquois  would  not  fight  against  their 
eastern  kindred,  but  had  no  scruples  about  the  distant  Senecas. 

De  Nonville  landed  at  Irondequoit  bay  and  finished  a  large 
fort  there,  July  12,  1687,  leaving  a  guard  of  440  men.  On  the 
13th  the  army  marched  toward  the  Seneca  towns,  with  an  Ottawa 
reinforcement.  Two  defiles  were  safely  passed,  but  in  the  third, 
near  the  present  village  of  Victor,  part  of  the  army  was  sur- 
prised by  800  Senecas.  Both  sides  had  considerable  loss,  but 
the  Senecas  left  the  field  and  abandoned  their  towns.  The  Can- 
adian Iroquois  fought  well  in  this  engagement,  but  the  western 
Indians  not  only  showed  cowardice  but  feasted  on  their  dead 
enemies. 

Next  day  a  large  village  was  entered,  most  of  which  had  been 

burned,  and  others  in  the  same  condition  were  visited  afterward. 

Formal  possession  was  taken  of  four  towns  and  one  small  fort. 

These  were   Totiakton,   Gannagaro,   Gannondata,   and   Gannon- 

garae,  with  the  small  fort.     Mr  O.  H.  Marshall  published  maps 

of  the  march,  and  the  town  sites  are  well  identified.    De  Nonville 

took  possession  of  the  villages  and  also 

All  the  lands  in  their  vicinity  as  many  and  how  far  soever 
they  may  extend,  conquered  in  His  Majesty's  name,  and  to  that 
end  has  planted  in  all  the  said  Villages  and  Forts  His  said 
Majesty's  Arms,  and  has  caused  to  be  proclaimed  in  loud  voice, 
Vive  le  Roi. 

A  vast  quantity  of  grain  was  destroyed,  with  many  hogs.  On 
the  return  the  stockade  was  burned,  and  the  army  went  on  to 
Niagara.  There  a  fort  was  built,  garrisoned  by  100  men,  which 
was  abandoned  the  next  year.  The  army  returned  by  the  north 
shore  of  the  lake,  usually  thought  safest,  but  the  south  shore 
had  been  followed  in  going,  as  all  the  Iroquois  villages  were 
thus  threatened. 

These  things  alarmed  the  Iroquois,  and  the  Onondagas  wanted 
cannon  for  their  fort;  but  the  English  thought  these  useless, 
and  they  were  not  furnished.  In  November  the  English  king 
formally  received  the  Iroquois  as  his  subjects,  and  hostilities 
against  them  were  forbidden.     They  probably  thought   this   a 


234  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

mere  alliance  and  treated  it  as  such.  At  the  same  time  the 
return  of  the  Indians  in  France  was  demanded. 

Hostilities  had  gone  on  in  the  west,  where  the  Iroquois  had 
subdued  the  Illinois  after  a  six  years  war.  They  now  turned 
against  the  Twightwees,  or  Miamis,  who  interfered  with  their 
beaver  hunting.  In  1687  the  English  gave  them  a  barrel  of 
powder  to  aid  them  in  this  war. 

In  1688  the  Iroquois  attacked  the  Mission  of  the  Mountain, 
killing  Haratsion,  its  chief.  Then  the  French  Iroquois  began  to 
waver  and  surrendered  their  prisoners,  50  of  their  own  men  also 
returning  to  the  New  York  towns.  Kryn  stood  fast  and  was  able 
to  turn  back  a  Mohawk  war  party  which  he  met.  At  this  time 
the  Mohawks  advised  Dongan  to  build  two  forts,  one  at  Cayon- 
hage,  at  the  mouth  of  Salmon  river,  and  the  other  at  Onjadarakte, 
now  Ticonderoga,  both  customary  landing  places. 

A  shrewd  plan  was  proposed  in  Canada  for  destroying  the 
Iroquois.  A  party  should  go  against  the  Mohawks  by  way  of 
Lake  Champlain,  while  another  went  by  way  of  Cayonhage  or 
La  Famine,  thence  to  Oneida  river,  where  Tethiroguen  would  be 
destroyed,  and  Touenho  a  little  farther  south.  Onondaga  was 
next  to  be  taken,  where  the  French  would  winter,  and  proceed 
to  destroy  Cayuga  in  the  spring  and  return.  The  party  on  the 
Mohawk  would  also  destroy  the  Oneidas.  The  plan  ignored 
English  interference  and  was  not  tried. 

In  1688  a  convoy  of  canoes  was  surprised  near  Fort  Frontenac 
by  25  or  30  Iroquois,  and  17  canoes  were  destroyed.  In  June 
of  that  year  the  great  Onondaga  chief  Hotreouate',  or  La  Grande 
Gueule,  visited  Montreal,  making  several  speeches  and  a  decla- 
ration of  neutrality,  but  obliged  the  French  to  give  up  their  allies 
to  their  fate.  At  that  time  Charlevoix  called  him  by  another 
name.     He  said : 

When  they  arrived  near  Cataracouy,  Haaskouan,  one  of  the 
deputies,  called  in  French  la  Grande  Gueule,  advanced  from  the 
party,  entered  the  fort,  and  asked  the  commandant  for  one  of 
his  officers  to  accompany  him  to  Montreal. 

The  request  was  granted,  but  the  officer  was  surprised  to  find 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  235 

himself  in  the  midst  of  560  Onondagas.  Just  afterward  he  gave 
the  French  another  great  fright  by  way  of  a  joke.  At  Lake  St 
Francis  they  met  another  party,  and  then  the  deputies  went  on 
alone.  Charlevoix  said  that  Haaskouan  was  speaker  and  a 
Seneca,  but  that  Hotreouate',  the  Onondaga,  was  meant  is  very 
clear.  His  address  alarmed  the  French,  and  he  gave  them  four 
days  to  answer.  He  was  expected  again  at  Montreal,  but  had 
not  come  Oct.  10,  nor  did  he  again  appear.  He  may  have  been 
in  the  peace  embassy  attacked  by  the  Huron  chief,  the  Rat,  other- 
wise known  as  Adario  or  Kondiaronk,  to  whom  De  Nonville  had 
promised  that  the  war  should  go  on  till  the  Iroquois  were 
destroyed.  While  on  the  warpath,  he  heard  that  Onondaga 
deputies  were  on  their  way  to  conclude  peace.  He  at  once 
waylaid  them  at  La  Famine,  killed  one,  seized  the  rest  and  then 
pretended  that  he  did  this  by  advice  of  the  French.  They  readily 
believed  this  of  De  Nonville.  All  were  set  free  with  apologies, 
but  one  whom  he  reserved  for  adoption.  This  one  he  gave  to 
the  French  at  Michilimackinac,  and  they  shot  him,  as  he 
intended. 

The  Iroquois  were  roused  to  fury,  and  the  bloody  war  of  1689 
followed.  There  would  now  be  no  peace  till  their  friends  were 
sent  back  from  the  galleys.  Fort  Frontenac  was  invested  by  900 
Iroquois,  but  they  failed  to  take  it.  Father  Milet  was  captured 
there  and  carried  to  Oneida,  where  he  was  afterward  adopted  and 
became  a  principal  chief.  He  was  long  a  subject  of  controversy 
with  the  English,  who  wished  to  hold  him.  The  simple  song 
which  his  captors  made  him  sing  on  the  road  has  a  pathetic  tone : 
"  Ongienda  kchasakehona!  I  have  been  taken  by  my  children!" 
One  of  his  names  at  this  time  was  Genherontatie',  The  Dying 
One  who  marches. 

From  Fort  Frontenac  the  Iroquois  went  to  Montreal,  killing 
or  capturing  300  or  400  there.  In  one  of  these  raids  200  French 
were  killed  in  an  hour,  and  in  August  1500  Iroquois  came  and  did 
all  the  damage  they  pleased,  landing  at  Lachine  in  a  storm,  and 
burning  and  killing  for  two  days  without  opposition.  In  Novem- 
ber  150  returned  to  the  island  of  Montreal,  killing  many  and 


236  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

taking  a  small  fort.  A  party  of  22  Iroquois  was  destroyed,  but 
one  escaping.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  fears  of  the 
French  exaggerated  their  numbers,  but  all  were  in  the  utmost 
terror  when  Frontenac  came  back  from  France  in  October  1689. 
The  old  man  had  not  lost  all  his  youthful  energy,  and  the  French 
took  courage.  He  brought  back  the  Indian  prisoners,  and  this 
and  the  smallpox  restrained  the  Iroquois  incursions.  The  cap- 
ture of  Schenectady  followed ;  and  in  this  expedition  the  French 
lost  21  men.  Kryn  commanded  80  French  Iroquois  in  this.  He 
was  killed  in  June  1690,  his  party  being  mistaken  for  enemies 
by  some  of  the  Abenaquiois.  It  had  been  hoped  that  he  would 
draw  all  the  Mohawks  to  Canada. 

This  year  the  Albany  people  sent  six  men,  with  three  teams  of 
horses,  to  aid  the  Mohawks  in  rebuilding  one  of  their  castles  a 
mile  farther  up  the  river. 

Colden  said  that  the  Leisler  troubles  and  the  change  of  gov- 
ernment caused  remarks  among  the  Iroquois.  The  Mohawks 
said: 

We  hear  that  a  Dutch  Prince  reigns  now  in  England,  why  do 
you  suffer  the  English  Soldiers  to  remain  in  the  Fort?  put  all  the 
English  out  of  the  Town.  When  the  Dutch  held  this  Country 
long  ago,  we  lay  in  their  Houses ;  but  the  English  have  always 
made  us  lie  without  Doors. 

Colden  and  Smith  both  described  a  council  at  Onondaga  almost 
unnoticed  in  other  colonial  records.  There  had  been  a  previous 
one  at  Albany,  September  1689,  in  which  the  Five  Nations  con- 
ferred with  delegates  from  New  England,  who  wished  their  aid 
against  some  eastern  Indians.  They  replied,  "  We  can  not 
declare  War  against  the  Eastern  Indians,  for  they  have  done  ns 
no  Harm."  At  this  time  they  told  the  English  that  140  Iroquois 
were  scouting  along  Canada,  and  nothing  would  escape  their 
notice.  Dec.  27,  1 689,  messengers  came  to  say  that  three  of  the 
released  prisoners  were  at  Onondaga,  with  proposals  from  Can- 
ada, and  they  wished  the  mayor  of  Albany,  Peter  Schuyler  and 
others,  to  eome  there  to  a  council.  The  magistrates  sent  a  M<> 
hawk  chief,  the  interpreter  and  another  person,  but,  unwisely, 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  2$J 

'k  no   Person   of   Note,   that   had   any   Influence   on   the   Indians, 
went." 

This  council  met  at  Onondaga,  Jan.  22,  1690,  with  80  sachems 
present,  Sadekanaghtie'  presiding.  Frontenac  notified  them  of 
his  return  with  13  Indians  who  had  been  carried  to  France. 
Adarahta,  chief  sachem  of  the  French  Iroquois,  spoke  on  three 
belts,  and  others  followed.  The  Seneca  chief,  Cannehoot,  gave 
an  account  of  negotiations  with  western  Indians,  who  gave  "  a 
red  Marble  Sun  as  large  as  a  Plate,"  and  "  a  large  Pipe  of  red 
Marble." 

After  the  Seneca  Speaker  had  done,  the  Wagunha  Presents 
were  hung  up  in  the  House,  in  the  Sight  of  the  whole  Assembly, 
and  afterwards  distributed  among  the  several  Nations,  and  their 
Acceptance  was  a  Ratification  of  the  Treaty.  A  large  Belt  was 
given  also  to  the  Albany  Messengers  as  their  Share.  The  Belt 
of  Wampum  sent  from  Albany  was  in  like  Manner  hanged  up, 
and  afterwards  divided.  New-England,  which  the  Indians  call 
Kinshon,  (that  is  a  Fish)  sent  likewise  the  Model  of  a  Fish,  as  a 
token  of  their  adhering  to  the  general  Covenant.  This  Fish 
was  handed  round  among  the  Sachems,  and  then  laid  aside  to 
be  put  up. 

They  rejected  the  French  alliance,  but  would  not  give  up  Milet 
to  the  English.  ;<  The  Indians  were  resolved  to  keep  all  the 
Means  of  making  Peace  in  their  own  Hands,"  and  Milet  had  a 
choice  of  masters. 

About  this  time  mention  was  made  of  the  settlement  of  some 
Mahicans  at  Schaghticoke,  nearly  20  years  earlier;  according  to 
Colden  in  1672.  Now,  too,  it  became  customary  to  send  black- 
smiths to  the  Iroquois  towns,  and  references  to  this  are  frequent. 
This  led  to  amusing  disputes,  for  it  was  a  matter  of  political 
importance  whether  these  smiths  were   French  or  English. 

Chapter  12 

Failure  of  expedition  against  Canada.  Agents  at  Onondaga.  Proposed 
English  missionaries.  Iroquois  losses.  Oreaoue'  and  Black  Kettle. 
Mohawk  towns  captured.  Governor  Fletcher.  Council  at  Albany. 
Dekanissora  in  Canada.  Fort  Frontenac  restored.  Colonial  congress 
at  Albany.  Delawares  and  Iroquois.  Western  Indians  hostile.  War 
with  the  French.  Invasion  of  Onondaga.  Old  Indian  tortured.  Fron- 
tenac's  conduct.     Some  Oneidas  remove  to  Canada. 

Iti  1690  the  English  made  a  serious  attempt  on  Canada  by  way 

of  the  St  Lawrence  and  Lake  Champlain,  both  expeditions  failing. 


238  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

At  Lake  George  the  Iroquois  made  elm  bark  canoes,  in  which  the 
English  were  afraid  to  embark,  and,  when  smallpox  broke  out, 
the  expedition  was  abandoned.  In  November  a  commission  was 
given  to  "Aernout  Cornelisse  Viele,  resident  agent  among  the 
Indians  at  their  court  of  Onondaga;  Gerrit  Luycasse  to  act  as 
agent  till  Viele  arrives."  Chevalier  d'Eau  had  been  sent  there  in 
June  with  four  Frenchmen  and  four  Indians,  to  draw  the  Iro- 
quois to  the  French  interest,  and  the  English  asked  to  have  them 
sent  to  Albany.     On  this 

The  5  Nacons  being  met  by  their  chieftnes  together  at  Onon- 
dague  aforesaid,  (which  is  their  Court)  Seized  them  and  bound 
them  instantly,  despoyling  them  of  all  their  Money,  Presents,  & 
what  they  had,  presenting  them  to  the  Sinneks,  Coiegues, 
Oneydes,  and  Macquaes,  each  one  of  the  French  men  to  be  treated 
in  their  Barbarous  manner. 

D'Eau  was  given  to  the  English.  From  New  York  he  was 
taken  to  Boston  and  allowed  to  escape.  In  Canada  fighting  went 
on  in  the  island  of  Montreal,  and  the  French  said  "  there  was 
no  security  anywhere."     Famine  naturally  followed. 

The  New  York  Indian  agents  saw  advantages  gained  by  the 

French  missionaries,  which  were  not  of  a  religious  nature,  and 

wished  to  send 

Some  young  divines  to  undertake  to  instruct  the  Indians 
especially  ye  Maquase  in  the  true  Protestant  Religion  since  divers 
had  an  inclination  to  itt  One  being  by  the  great  pains  and  indus- 
try of  Our  Minister  Dom :  Dellius  brought  soe  far  yt  he  made 
his  publick  confession  in  the  Church  at  Albany  to  every  body's 
admiration  and  was  baptized  accordingly. 

Governor  Sloughter  had  a  conference  with  the  Five  Nations  at 
Albany  in  1691.  They  said:  "We  did  formerly  desire,  that  we 
might  have  a  Smith  at  Onnondaga,  whereupon  a  young  Man  that 
was  a  Smith  by  Trade,  was  sent  us,  and  we  gave  him  20  Beaver 
for  his  encouragement  to  stay,  but  is  gone  away;  again  we 
request  that  we  may  have  a  Smith  there." 

The  Mohawks  resented  English  inactivity  and  before  the  con- 
ference sent  messengers  to  Canada.  A  Mohawk  brought  news 
from  Canada  that  there  was  "  a  designe  to  goe  out  and  fight 
against  Onnondage  and  30  praying  Indians  were  ready  to  goe  out 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  239 

the  next  day  to  annoy  the  Onnondages."  Frontenac  had  said  to 
the  Indians  that  he  would  gather  a  large  force  against  the  Iro- 
quois, "  and  fall  upon  them  vizt  first  on  the  Sennekaes  and  then 
on  the  Cayouges,  Onnondages,  and  Oneydoes  and  passe  by  the 
Maquaes  and  soe  come  down  and  fall  on  the  Christians  at 
Albany."  Governor  Sloughter  said,  if  Albany  "  be  lost  our 
Indians  are  lost,  and  if  the  French  get  them  they  certainly  get 
all  America." 

An  expedition  against  Canada,  in  which  the  Iroquois  were  to 
aid,  was  arranged.  The  third  Mohawk  castle,  mourning  the 
death  of  its  chief  sachem,  Tahaiodoris,  forgot  its  quota  of  men, 
but  would  send  74.  The  first  two  castles  were  ready.  Major 
Schuyler  headed  this  party  of  300  Mohawks  and  150  English, 
having  moderate  success.  When  he  attacked  a  party  on  his 
retreat,  the  Schaghticoke  Indians  did  not  behave  well,  but  "  the 
Mohawks,  upon  no  Occasion,  yielded  an  Inch  of  Ground,  till 
the  English  first  gave  Way." 

That  year  the  principal  captains  of  the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas 
were  all  killed.  For  a  winter  march  the  Senecas  were  making 
snowshoes  between  Onondaga  and  the  St  Lawrence  in  Decem- 
ber. Others  went  down  the  river  in  November,  800  landing  on 
the  island  of  Montreal  and  burning  many  houses.  Fort  Fron- 
tenac had  gone  to  decay,  the  villages  were  defenseless,  the  French 
melted  leaden  gutters  and  weights  for  bullets,  and  the  Iroquois 
made  obstinate  attacks.  Quite  a  battle  occurred  with  the  Onei- 
das near  Montreal,  in  which  Oreaoue',  the  Cayuga  chief,  took 
part  on  the  French  side.  The  Oneidas  were  surprised  in  a  house, 
which  was  set  on  fire,  and  most  of  them  perished.  Three  prison- 
ers were  burned  by  French  farmers  who  had  lost  relatives.  Hos- 
tilities were  incessant.  The  Mohawks  carried  off  some  Caughna- 
wagas  and  attacked  the  village  of  the  Mountain,  killing  Tondi- 
haron,  the  chief,  and  capturing  35  women  and  children.  That 
year  the  Iroquois  cast  the  French  war  belt  on  the  ground. 
While  the  Mohawks  were  successful,  the  western  Indians 
harassed  the  Senecas. 

Oreaoue'    was    now    zealous    for    the    French,    making   prisoners 


24O  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

of  his  own  friends,  and  Frontenac  did  not  hesitate  to  have  these 
tortured.  All  wanted  the  Cayuga  chief  as  a  leader,  and  he  was 
constantly  on  the  warpath.  On  the  St  Lawrence  38  Frenchmen 
surprised  an  Iroquois  party,  some  of  whom  escaped,  returning 
with  aid  and  killing  half  the  French.  The  following  winter  40 
Mohawks  attacked  Fort  Yercheres,  carrying  off  20  people.  They 
were  pursued,  and  most  of  the  captives  were  recovered.  AI lie 
de  Yercheres  successfully  defended  the  fort,  as  her  mother  had 
done  two  years  before. 

There  wrere  Canadian  successes.  In  February  1692,  a  party 
of  120  French  and  205  Indians  attacked  50  Iroquois  at  Toniata, 
killing  24  and  taking  16.  In  May  a  French  and  Indian  party 
was  defeated  at  the  Long  Sault  of  the  Ottawa  with  much  loss; 
but  the  victors  were  beaten  in  turn,  and  the  captives  recovered. 
Two  large  Iroquois  parties  in  October  did  nothing.  In  Novem- 
ber 400  Iroquois  came  down  the  St  Lawrence,  appearing  in  sight 
of  Montreal,  while  400  came  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain.  They 
did  but  little  damage.  M.  Beaucour  marched  300  men  to  attack 
the  Iroquois  near  Niagara,  80  of  whom  fought  him,  losing  most 
of  their  number. 

Kanadgegai,  or  Black  Kettle,  a  noted  Onondaga  chief,  headed 
the  party  at  the  Long  Sault,  and  made  another  dash  July  15. 
taking  some  prisoners.  There  was  fighting  on  the  Ottawa,  and 
the  Iroquois  alone  kept  Canada  in  constant  alarm.  Charlevoix 
said  that  Black  Kettle  overran  the  country  "  as  a  Torrent  does 
the  Low-lands,  when  it  overflows  its  banks,  and  there  is  no 
withstanding  it.  The  Soldiers  had  Orders  to  stand  upon  the 
defensive  within  their  Forts."  This  year  his  wife  was  killed 
while  trying  to  escape  from  a  mission  town  in  Canada.  In  this 
warfare  the  Mohawks  had  lost  90  men  in  two  years,  leaving 
them   but   130.  and   the    French   Iroquois  00  men   in   7  years. 

In  June  1692  the  Iroquois  renewed  the  covenant  with  the  Eng- 
lish, now  under  Captain  Ingoldsby,  desiring  that  the  important 
blacksmith's  anvil  might  be  retained  at  Onondaga  and  a  smith 
live  there.  The  Indians  did  most  <>i~  the  fighting;  and,  when 
Tngoldsby  reproved   them    for  their  carelessness,   the)    replied: 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  24I 

"  Let  us  not  reproach  one  another,  such  Words  do  not  savour 
well  among  Friends."     Of  one  present  they  said  : 

We  return  you  Thanks  for  the  Powder  and  Lead  given  us ; 
but  what  shall  we  do  without  Guns,  shall  we  throw  them  at  the 
Enemy?  We  doubt  they  will  not  hurt  them  so.  Before  this  we 
always  had  Guns  given  us.  It  is  no  Wonder  the  Governor  of 
Canada  gains  upon  us,  for  he  supplies  his  Indians  with  Guns  as 
well  as  Powder ;  he  supplies  them  plentifully  with  every  Thing 
that  can  hurt  us. 

In  January  1693  a  party  of  625  men  left  Montreal  to  attack  the 
Mohawks,  effecting  a  complete  surprise  and  bringing  away  200 
prisoners,  most  of  whom  escaped  on  the  return  march.  Nearly 
a  score  of  Mohawks  were  killed  in  this  inroad.  The  French 
party  passed  Schenectady  Feb.  8,  and  the  alarm  was  given  there, 
but  no  word  was  sent  to  the  Mohawks.  Two  of  their  forts  were 
quickly  taken.  In  the  third  and  largest  a  war  party  prepared  to 
go  out  next  day,  and  in  the  noise  of  the  war  dance  the  French 
surprised  them  and  killed  many.  The  invaders  became  per- 
fectly destitute  and  would  have  been  destroyed  had  the  pursuit 
continued.  In  this  retreat  there  was  some  fighting,  both  parties 
making  rude  forts  in  the  woods,  and  both  suffering  for  lack  of 
food.  Golden  said  :  "  The  French  designed  to  have  put  them  all 
to  the  Sword,  but  their  own  Indians  would  not  suffer  it,  and  gave 
Quarter.  They  took  three  hundred  Prisoners,  of  whom  one 
hundred  were  fighting  Men."  Major  Schuyler  went  to  the  aid 
of  the  indignant  Mohawks,  and  most  of  the  prisoners  were  recov- 
ered.    Colden  said  : 

The  Indians  eat  the  Bodies  of  the  French  that  they  found. 
Coll.  Schuyler  (as  he  told  me  himself)  going  among  the  Indians 
at  that  Time,  was  invited  to  eat  Broth  with  them,  which  some 
of  them  had  already  boiled,  which  he  did,  till  they,  putting  the 
Ladle  into  the  Kettle  to  take  out  more,  brought  out  a  French 
Man's  Hand,  which  put  an  end  to  his  Appetite. 

He  elsewhere  speaks  of  the  indifference  as  to  food: 

A  Mohawk  Sachem  told  me  with  a  Kind  of  Pride,  that  a  Man 
eats  every  Thing  without  Distinction,  Bears,  Cats,  Dogs,  Snakes, 
Frogs,  &c,  intimating,  that  it  i<  Womanish  to  have  any  Delicacy 
in  the  Choice  of  Food. 


242  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

That  year  the  Oneidas  sent  Tareha  to  Canada  with  peace  belts, 
to  arrange  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  At  the  end  of  Lake  St 
Louis  were  800  Iroquois,  but  they  did  no  harm.  It  was  about 
this  time  that  St  Michel  escaped  from  Onondaga,  where  prepa- 
rations to  burn  him  were  being  made.  He  said  that  but  few 
desired  peace,  and  that  the  English  had  built  a  strong  fort  there, 
which  had  eight  bastions  and  three  rows  of  pickets. 

Though  the  Oneidas  generally  favored  the  French,  it  was  noted 
this  year  that  Odongaowa,  the  long  (great)  Oneida,  the  par- 
ticular friend  of  Father  Milet,  was  now  on  the  English  side. 
That  year  many  were  killed  near  the  Onondaga  and  Mohawk 
castles,  and  the  enemy  even  tied  a  bunch  of  reeds  to  the  door  of 
a  Mohawk  fort.  In  May  the  Virginia  and  Maryland  Indians 
asked  Governor  Fletcher  "  to  persuade  the  Senecas  from  doing 
them  any  harm  in  their  hunting,"  as  they  had  done. 

Governor  Fletcher  had  a  conference  with  the  Five  Nations  at 
Albany  in  July  1693.  They  called  him  Cayenquirago,  or  Great 
Swift  Arrow,  in  allusion  to  his  name  and  the  speed  with  which 
he  came  to  their  aid.  At  this  time  he  made  them  quite  a  present. 
Colden  remarked  on  this : 

The  King  usually  sends  them  a  considerable  Present  with  every 
new  Governor  of  New  York,  which  is  not  always  applied  as  it  is 
designed.  If  this  Present  had  been  made  sooner,  it  had  been  of 
much  more  Use  to  the  English,  as  well  as  to  the  Five  Nations. 

Dirck  Wessel  attended  a  council  at  Onondaga  in  August  and 
tried  to  get  possession  of  Father  Milet,  but  failed.  Aquadaronde, 
chief  sachem  of  Onondaga,  was  sick,  but  was  brought  into  the 
council  by  four  men.  This  title  seems  equivalent  to  tjiat  of  Ato- 
tarho,  his  successor  having  the  same,  as  well  as  the  council  name 
of  the  Onondagas. 

In  February  1694  a  council  was  held  in  the  street  and  city 
hall  at  Albany.  The  Onondaga  chief  could  not  be  present,  being 
sick,  which  Colden  thought  a  convenient  excuse.  He  was  almost 
helpless  the  preceding  summer,  and,  when  this  Albany  council 
was  proposed,  "  the  Onnondages  replycd,  no,  let  us  send  for 
Quider  hither  with   the   Maquaes,  since  Kagueendaronda  is  not 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW     YORK    IROQUOIS  243 

fit  to  travail."  There  was  no  important  business  beyond  a  rela- 
tion of  what  the  Oneidas  had  done.  News  came  that  the  Shaw- 
nees  and  others  were  coming  for  a  treaty,  but  they  did  not  appear. 
Dekanissora  was  speaker  at  this  time  and  for  many  years  after. 
Two  Onondagas  went  to  Montreal  to  see  if  Iroquois  deputies 
would  be  well  received,  but  these  did  not  follow  at  once.  The 
two  were  Torskin,  nephew  of  Hotreouate',  and  a  son  of  Garioye', 
an  Iroquois  of  the  Sault.  Dekanissora  and  two  chiefs  of  each 
nation  came  to  Quebec  in  May  and  were  well  received.  They 
proposed  peace.  Frontenac  had  publicly  kicked  away  the  Iro- 
quois belts  before,  but  was  more  gracious  in  private  and  after- 
ward. The  Onondaga  speaker  was  a  favorite,  and  his  speech 
was  recorded,  with  the  summing  up  already  given.  They 
returned  home  in  June  but  were  recalled. 

All  were  every  Day,  while  they  staid  in  the  Place,  entertained 
at  the  Governor's  Table,  or  at  the  Tables  of  the  most  consider- 
able Officers.  Decanesora  on  his  Side  made  a  good  Appearance, 
being  cloathed  in  Scarlet,  trim'd  with  Gold,  and  with  a  laced  Bever 
Hat  on  his  Head,  which  had  been  given  him  by  Colonel  Fletcher. 

Colden  notes  also  that  he  spoke  to  the  Praying  Indians  of 
Canada,  called  Jernaistes :  "  First  to  those  of  Cahnawaga, 
(chiefly  Mohawks)  .  .  .  then  to  the  other  castle  called 
Canassadaga,   (chiefly  Onondagas)." 

Fort  Frontenac  was  now  restored,  though  the  place  was 
unhealthy,  87  out  of  100  men  having  died  there  in  a  year.  In 
October  Father  Milet  was  released,  but  some  Oneida  deputies 
who  followed  were  not  well  received.  Oreaoue'  brought  some 
friendly  Cayuga  and  Seneca  chiefs  there  and  did  wonders  for 
the  French,  both  in  peace  and  war. 

All  these  things  alarmed  the  English.  Governor  Fletcher 
wrote  to  the  other  colonies,  telling  them  there  was  no  safety 
but  in  united  effort  and  calling  a  council  at  Albany  in  August, 
in  which  Colden  says  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  were  represented.  According  to  him,  Dekanissora 
sang  a  song  of  peace  at  the  opening,  and  Rode  the  Mohawk  and 
Sadakanahtie  the  Onondaga  spoke. 


244  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

In  1694  the  Delawares  definitely  appear  in  Iroquois  history, 
having-  long  been  subject  to  them  in  a  quiet  way.  The  time 
came  afterward  when  they  did  not  like  this,  and  said  they  were 
deceived  by  the  Iroquois  when  persuaded  to  become  women  and 
thus  peacemakers.  Heckewelder  says  of  this  office :  "  It  must 
be  understood  that  among  these  nations  wars  are  never  brought 
to  an  end  but  by  the  interference  of  the  weaker  sex."  Then  he 
tells  the  story  invented  by  them,  on  which  Albert  Gallatin 
remarked :  "  The  tale  suggested  by  the  vanity  of  the  Delawares, 
and  in  which  the  venerable  Heckewelder  placed  implicit  faith, 
that  this  treaty  was  a  voluntary  act  on  the  part  of  the  Delawares, 
is  too  incredible  to  require  a  serious  discussion."  Heckewelder 
gives  the  speech  and  acts  supposed  to  have  been  used  in  making 
the  Delawares  women,  which  may  be  compared  with  the  historic 
ceremony  of  restoring  their  rights.    The  speech  had  three  parts : 

The  first  was,  that  they  declared  the  Delaware  nation  to  be 
the  woman  in  the  following  words :  "  We  dress  you  in  a  woman's 
long  habit,  reaching  down  to  your  feet,  and  adorn  you  with  ear- 
rings " ;  meaning  that  they  should  no  more  take  up  arms.  The 
second  point  was  thus  expressed :  "  We  hang  a  calabash  filled 
with  oil  and  medicine  upon  your  arm.  With  the  oil  you  shall 
cleanse  the  ears  of  the  other  nations,  that  they  may  attend  to 
good  and  not  to  bad  words,  and  with  the  medicine  you  shall 
heal  those  who  are  walking  in  foolish  ways,  that  they  may  return 
to  their  senses  and  incline  their  hearts  to  peace."  The  third 
point,  by  which  the  Delawares  were  exhorted  to  make  agriculture 
their  future  employ  and  means  of  subsistence,  was  thus  worded : 
"  We  deliver  into  your  hands  a  plant  of  Indian  corn  and  a  hoe." 
Each  of  these  points  was  confirmed  by  delivering  a  belt  of  wam- 
pum, and  these  belts  have  been  carefully  laid  up,  and  their  mean- 
ing frequently  repeated.  The  Iroquois,  on  the  contrary,  assert 
that  they  conquered  the  Delawares,  and  that  the  latter  were 
forced  to  adopt  the  defenceless  state  and  appellation  of  a  woman 
to  avoid  total  ruin. 

What  the  Delawares'  earlier  statement  really  was  appears  in 
a  conference  held  with  them  in  Philadelphia  July  6,  1694.  A 
belt  was  produced  by  them,  sent,  they  said 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  245 

By  the  Onondages  &  Senekaes,  who  say,  you  delaware  Indians 
doe  nothing  but  stay  att  home  &  boill  yor  potts,  and  are  like 
women,  while  wee  Onondages  &  Senekaes  goe  abroad  &  fight 
agt  the  enemie.  The  Senekaes  wold  have  us  delaware  Indians 
to  be  ptners  wt  you  to  fight  agt  ye  french,  But  we  have  always 
been  a  peaceable  people,  &  resolving  to  live  so,  &  being  but  week 
and  verie  few  in  number,  can  not  assist  you  ;  &  having  resolved 
among  ourselves  not  to  goe,  doe  intend  to  send  back  this  their 
belt  of  Wampum. 

In  1695,  as  he  had  said  before,  Louis  14  did  not  think  it  proper 
to  continue  the  reward  of  10  silver  e'cus  (each  60  sous)  for 
every  Iroquois  killed,  nor  the  20  e'  cus  for  every  male  Iroquois 
prisoner.     It  cost  too  much. 

A  messenger  informed  the  French  that  the  only  Dutchman 
then  at  Onondaga  was  Peter  Schuyler's  brother.  War  parties 
went  out  against  the  English  from  Canada,  and  the  Iroquois 
had  a  party  watching  the  Grand  river  for  western  Indians. 
Against  the  Miamis  200  Senecas  and  Cayugas  were  gone,  and 
100  against  the  Andastes,  as  reported ;  probably  some  other 
southern  Indians.  They  threatened  to  devour  the  Miamis,  that 
they  might  unite  the  whole  earth,  but  the  lake  tribes  they  would 
not  strike.  The  French  persuaded  all  but  the  Hurons  to  make 
war  on  them,  though  they  did  not  wish  to  do  this.  A  Sioux 
chief  afterward  laid  22  arrows  on  a  beaver  robe  before  Fron- 
tenac,  weeping  and  naming  a  village  for  each  which  asked  his 
protection. 

The  Outagamis  had  spared  some  Iroquois  prisoners,  the  bet- 
ter to  negotiate.  Fearing  the  Sioux  would  seize  their  village, 
they  left  it  to  settle  by  the  Wabash  river,  where  they  could  unite 
with  the  Iroquois  and  English.  Others  would  join  them. 
Some  Hurons,  led  by  a  chief  called  the  Baron  and  with  the  con- 
sent of  the  nations  about  Michilimackinac,  went  to  the  Senecas 
with  14  peace  belts,  but  most,  western  nations  joined  Frontenac. 

Peace  negotiations  had  continued  till  April,  when  a  cruel  war 
recommenced  with  much  loss  to  the  French.  An  Iroquois  party 
was  defeated  on  Lake  Champlain  with  mutual  loss.  Word  came 
that    the    Hurons,    Ottawas,    Foxes    and    Maskoutins    proposed 


246  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

joining  the  Iroquois,  and  it  seemed  necessary  to  strike  that 
people.  Frontenac  held  a  council  with  the  Ottawas  July  18, 
and  others  followed.  They  had  made  peaee  with  the  Iroquois, 
but  they  were  induced  to  break  this,  and  they  treacherously 
attacked  and  defeated  one  of  their  parties.  Some  of  the  pris- 
oners were  Httrons,  but  the  French  no  longer  feared  peace 
between  the  Iroquois  and  Ottawas.  Some  of  the  latter  were 
recalled  by  Frontenac  to  roast  and  eat  an  Iroquois  prisoner, 
but  he  died  before  they  could  torture  him,  so  they  cut  off  his 
head  for  a  feast  and  departed. 

Speaking  of  some  depredations  below  Montreal  this  year,  it 
was  said,  "  These  blows  were  struck  by  some  Mohawks  and 
Oneidas,  as  we  discover  by  their  tomahawks,  which  they  left 
sticking  in  the  ground,  according  to  their  custom."  There  are 
many  references  to  this. 

In  Aquendara's  speech  at  Onondaga  in  1695,  he  commented 
severely  on  European  pretensions,  and  said  : 

We,  warriors,  are  the  first  and  the  ancient  people,  and  the 
greatest  of  you  all.  These  parts  and  countries  were  all  inhabited 
and  trod  upon  by  us,  the  warriors,  before  any  Christian.  (Then 
stamping  hard  with  his  foot  on  the  ground,  he  said)  We  shall 
not  suffer  Cadaracqui  to  be  inhabited  again. 

All  that  summer  700  men  were  repairing  that  fort,  preparing 
for  the  coming  year.  In  1696  a  plan  to  attack  the  Mohawks  was 
given  up,  the  snow  being  very  deep  in  the  woods  and  7  feet  of 
snow  everywhere  between  Montreal  and  the  fort,  a  thing  never 
before  known.  This  only  retarded  hostilities.  The  great  war 
kettle  was  set  over  by  Frontenac,  humanity  was  to  be  laid  aside, 
and  the  Onondagas  to  be  first  subdued  as  most  mutinous  of  all. 

Just  before  this,  the  Iroquois  had  sent  deputies  to  conclude 
peace  with  the  five  Mackinaw  nations,  and  one  present  brought 
back  was  "  a  calumet  of  red  stone,  of  extraordinary  size  and 
beauty."  The  Iroquois  had  hunted  on  good  terms  with  the 
Hurons  the  whole  winter,  but  were  attacked  by  French  Indians. 
The  western  nations  refused  to  join  the  expedition  against 
Onondaga. 

In  June,  10  Ottawas  were  prowling  near  that  place,  but  made 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW     YORK    IROQUOIS  247 

no  prisoners.  Some  Iroquois  were  taken  in  Canada,  and  of  these 
four  Onondagas  were  burned  when  the  army  reached  Montreal. 
The  force  consisted  of  1600  French  and  460  Indians,  occupying 
400  boats,  the  Indians  being  mostly  with  the  vanguard,  which 
changed  every  day.  Frontenac  was  carried  across  the  portage 
at  Oswego  Falls  in  his  canoe,  and  from  the  lake  to  Onondaga  in 
a  chair.  A  horse  had  been  brought  for  M.  de  Callieres  on 
account  of  his  lameness,  and  the  artillery  consisted  of  two  small 
cannon  and  two  light  mortars. 

From  Lake  Ontario  the  army  followed  the  east  bank  of  the 
Oswego  river,  crossing  the  Oneida  river  Aug.  1,  and  landing  on 
the  east  side  of  Onondaga  lake  the  same  day.  This  was  between 
Liverpool  and  Syracuse  on  the  old  mission  ground,  where  a  fort 
was  built,  the  lines  of  which  could  be  seen  a  century  later.  On 
that  day  bundles  containing  1434  rushes  were  found  at  the  foot 
of  a  tree,  to  show  the  force  arrayed  against  them.  The  fort  was 
finished  Aug.  3,  and  the  army  crossed  the  marsh  and  encamped 
at  the  salt  springs  on  the  north  limits  of  Syracuse,  in  readiness 
for  the  next  day's  march. 

The  town  was  9  miles  away,  on  the  east  side  of  Imtternut 
creek,  and  there  was  probably  a  good  trail,  but  the  road  had 
some  great  difficulties.  Though  the  army  started  at  sunrise, 
it  was  sunset  when  it  reached  (  hiondaga,  and  the  town  was  in 
ashes.  An  old  squaw  was  knocked  on  the  head  and  an  old  man 
tortured,  whose  fortitude  elicited  the  admiration  of  the  French. 
It  is  fair  to  say  that  Father  Lamberville's  account  differs  widely 
from  the  official  statement  and  that  of  Charlevoix.  The  priest 
saw  the  death  of  this  man,  whom  be  had  baptized  when  last 
there,  and  whom  lie  described  as  a  benevolent  and  devout  old 
man.  who  had  been  kind  to  the  French.  His  Canadian  relatives 
asked  a  speedy  death  for  him.  but  the  French  insisted  on  a 
slow  fire. 

The  official  account  is  different.     The  Indians  were  excited: 

It  was  not  deemed  prudent  to  dissuade  them  from  the  desire 
they  felt  to  burn  him.  He  had,  no  doubt,  prepared  himself 
during  his  long  life  to  die  with  firmness,  however  cruel  the  tor- 


248  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

tures  he  should  have  to  endure.  Not  the  slightest  murmur 
escaped  his  lips ;  on  the  contrary,  he  exhorted  those  who  tor- 
mented him  to  remember  his  death,  in  order  that  they  may  dis- 
play similar  courage  when  those  of  his  nation  should  avenge  his 
murder  on  them.  And  when  a  Savage,  weary  of  his  harangues, 
gave  him  some  cuts  of  a  knife :  "  I  thank  thee,"  he  said,  "  but 
thou  oughtcst  rather  complete  my  death  by  fire.  Learn  French 
dogs!  [how  to  suffer]  and  ye  Savages,  their  Allies,  who  are  dogs 
of  dogs,  remember  what  you  have  to  do  when  you  will  occupy 
a  position  similar  to  mine." 

De  Vaudreuil  made  a  quick  march  from  Onondaga  to  Oneida, 
destroying  it  on  the  7th  and  bringing  as  prisoners  the  men  who 
welcomed  him  there.  An  Oneida  was  burned  after  the  return 
to  Montreal,  and  an  Onondaga  killed  himself  there  in  prison. 

On  its  way  to  Onondaga  the  army  left  Lachine  July  4,  and 
began  its  return  Aug.  9,  being  at  Fort  Frontenac  Aug.  15.  The 
French  lost  their  time  and  harvests ;  the  Onondagas  their  bark 
cabins  and  crops,  but  the  English  made  good  part  of  this  loss. 

Charlevoix  gave  a  graphic  account  of  Frontenac's  conduct  at 
Onondaga  at  this  time,  representing  him  as  a  jealous,  peevish 
and  wilful  old  man.  At  first  he  proposed  going  to  Cayuga, 
destroying  the  towns  and  building  French  forts.  All  approved 
and  some  volunteered  to  remain.  Before  night  he  resolved  to 
go  home,  in  spite  of  all  remonstrances.  To  these  he  replied : 
"  They  want  to  obscure  my  glory,  and  it  is  time  that  I  should 
take  a  little  repose."  Charlevoix  said  "  that  no  one  of  the  pro- 
jects which  he  formed  for  completely  humbling  them  succeeded." 
All  went  on  as  before. 

The  Mohawks  now  brought  peace  belts  to  Canada.  Two 
French  parties  were  unfortunate,  but  an  Iroquois  canoe  party 
was  defeated  on  Fake  Erie.  There  was  a  two  hours'  fight,  and 
55  Iroquois  were  killed.  This  broke  up  some  western  treaties. 
To  show  how  far  the  Iroquois  now  strayed  from  home,  it  mav 
be  said  that  two  Mohawks  were  this  year  sent  back  from  Eng- 
land, who  had  been  taken  at  the  surrender  of  Fort  York  at 
Hudson  bay. 

In  February  1697  33  Oneidas  went  to  live  at  Caughnawaga. 
Others  wished  to  go  and  asked  land  for  a  Canadian  settlement 


History  of  the  new  york  iroquois  249 

where  the  name  of  Oneida  might  be  preserved,  but  the  Onon- 
dagas  and  Mohawks  prevented  this.  Though  the  French  wished 
peace  with  them,  the  Onondagas  resolved  that  none  of  their  peo- 
ple should  live  in  Canada.  One  of  their  chiefs  was  captured  at  the 
gate  of  Schenectady,  and  a  proposed  council  between  them,  the 
Oneidas  and  French  was  defeated  by  the  young  men,  who  wished 
to  avenge  the  death  of  a  chief.  In  November  an  Onondaga  peace 
embassy  went  to  Canada,  but  brought  no  prisoners  and  had  a 
cool  reception.  It  did  not  speak  for  the  Mohawks,  and  Fronte- 
nac  proposed  sending  an  expedition  against  them,  but  heavy 
snows  prevented  this. 

There  were  various  encounters  during  the  year,  in  which  four 
western  nations  said  they  had  killed  100  Senecas.  A  French 
party  was  destroyed  near  Albany  by  the  Mohawks  and  Mahicans, 
and  the  Iroquois  were  everywhere  in  the  field.  The  French 
heard  that  the  Baron  had  gone  to  live  near  Albany,  with  30 
Huron  families.  Fie  went  to  Quebec,  but  sent  his  son  with  19 
belts,  to  make  peace  with  the  Senecas.  This  was  done  in  spite 
of  the  French,  who  gave  as  a  reason  that  the  English  sold  them 
goods  cheaper  than  they  could.     Trade  affected  Indian  policy. 

Chapter  13 

Peace  declared.  Black  Kettle  killed.  Oreaoue'  dies.  English  protection 
of  Iroquois.  French  and  English  agents  at  Onondaga.  Frontenac 
dies.  Western  Indians  hostile.  Proposed  Onondaga  fort.  Colonel 
Romer's  journey.  Money  for  fort.  Iroquois  make  peace  with  Canada. 
Prisoners  exchanged.  Jesuits  return  to  Iroquois.  Council  at  Mon- 
treal. Beaver  land  deed.  Penn's  letter.  French  influence  at  Onon- 
daga.    Nanticoke  tribute.     Montour  family.     Iroquois  join  English. 

Peace  had  been  declared,  and  early  in  1698  Black  Kettle  and 
his  party  were  hunting  near  Fort  Frontenac,  having  made  peace 
with  the  French.  There  were  over  30  Onondagas  in  the  band, 
and  their  young  men  intended  going  against  the  Ottawas,  who 
had  killed  100  Iroquois  in  the  past  year.  Frontenac  did  not  like 
this  and  gave  orders  that  some  chiefs  should  be  quietly  secured. 
They  were  surprised  by  34  Algonquins,  who  killed  20,  including 
Black  Kettle  and  four  chiefs,  and  took  eight  prisoners.  The 
scalps  and  prisoners  were  taken  to  Montreal.     The  Onondagas 


25O  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

complained,  and  Frontenac  flung  their  belt  from  him,  speaking 
of  the  chief's  death  as  a  trifling  affair.  He  would  give  them 
something  worth  crying  about.  In  private  he  talked  better,  but 
this  interrupted  negotiations.  The  Iroquois  said  that  94  of  their 
people  had  been  killed  or  captured  since  peace  was  declared,  and 
it  was  worse  than  open  war.  An  arrangement  was  made  and 
prisoners  were  exchanged.  Of  the  death  of  Black  Kettle,  Col- 
den  said : 

After  he  was  mortally  wounded,  he  cried  out:  "  Must  I,  who 
have  made  the  whole  Earth  tremble  before  me,  now  die  by  the 
Hands  of  Children?"  for  he  despised  the  Adirondacks. 

Soon  after  Black  Kettle's  death  Oreaoue'  died  at  Quebec,  and 
was  buried  with  ecclesiastic  and  military  honors,  "  a  worthy 
Frenchman  and  good  Christian."  A  good  story  is  told  of  his 
religious  fervor.  Greatly  affected  by  the  crucifixion  of  Christ, 
he  said,  had  he  been  there,  he  would  have  avenged  his  death 
and  brought  away  the  scalps  of  his  enemies. 

Governor  Bellomont  now  notified  Frontenac  that  he  had  sent 
troops  to  Albany  to  protect  the  Iroquois,  and  that  Lieutenant 
Governor  Nanfan  would  go  farther  with  them  if  need  required. 
Dellius  and  Schuyler  were  sent  to  Canada  to  arrange  an  exchange 
of  prisoners,  but  the  Iroquois  preferred  doing  this  in  their  own 
way.  If  subjects,  they  were  not  submissive  ones,  and  Bello- 
mont found  them  quite  sullen,  but  succeeded  in  conciliating  them. 

There  was  continual  controversy  on  English  and  French  rela- 
tions to  the  Iroquois.  In  1698  a  New  York  merchant  testified 
that  he  had  lived  in  Albany  since  1639,  and  that  the  Five  Nations 
had  almost  every  year  since  renewed  the  covenant  with  New 
York.  Colonel  Bayard  understood  that  the  Dutch  settled  at 
Albany  in  1621  ;  ''and  ever  since  that  first  settlement  the  I  r<> 
quaes  or  five  Canton  Indian  Nations,  have  always  kept  up  a  good 
peace  and  correspondence  with  the  Govern1  of  this  Province." 
For  60  years  past  they  had  renewed  this  almost  every  year. 
History   was  uncertain   even  then. 

In  [698  some  Mohawks  went  to  visit  their  relatives  at  the 
Sault,  remaining  some  time  and  being  well  entertained.  Charle- 
voix said : 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  25 1 

It  was  something  flattering  for  these  Indians  to  see  themselves 
thus  sought  by  two  powers,  either  of  which  could  have  destroyed 
them  in  less  than  one  campaign,  and  whose  mutual  jealousies 
they  had  contrived  to  work  upon  so  skilfully  as  to  inspire  fear, 
and  in  some  sort  respect  from  both. 

Both   French   and   English  now  found   it  necessary  to   have 

agents  at  Onondaga,  and  Bellomont  urged  the  building  of  forts 

in   the   Iroquois   country,   the   need   of   which   he   saw.      Count 

Frontenac  planned  a  second  invasion  of  Onondaga,  but  gave  it 

up  and  died  late  in  1698. 

Dekanissora's  proposal  to  treat  directly  with  the  French  on 
the  exchange  of  prisoners  greatly  alarmed  the  English,  who 
described  him  as  "  a  brave  righting  fellow,  that  has  done  the 
French  much  mischief,  and  they  have  mightily  endeavored  to 
debauch  him  from  us,  but  in  vain."  The  Canadian  Iroquois 
now  took  part,  sending  two  belts  to  the  four  nations  to  tell  them 
it  was  the  last  time  they  were  bid  to  come  to  Canada  to  treat, 
and  they  were  worse  than  beasts.  The  Onondagas,  as  the  prin- 
cipal sufferers,  with  the  Oneidas  and  Cayugas,  thought  best  to 
send  three  messengers,  and  Bellomont  tried  to  stop  these  till 
Schuyler  could  see  them.  Col.  Peter  Schuyler,  Dirck  Wessel 
and  Hendrick  Hansen  formed  the  embassy;  and  it  was  resolved 
that  Johannes  Glen  jr  and  John  Baptist  Van  Epps,  the  inter- 
preter, should  reside  at  Onondaga  for  a  time.  The  latter  two 
went  at  once. 

The  Iroquois  embassy  reached  Onondaga  Mar.  21,  1699,  on 
their  return  from  Canada,  bringing  five  belts  and  an  offer  to 
exchange  prisoners.  On  this  a  council  was  called  at  Onondaga, 
to  meet  in  25  days.  In  such  calls  tally-sticks  are  attached  to  the 
wampum,  a  notch  being  removed  every  day. 

Capt.  John  Schuyler,  Capt.  John  Bleecker,  John  Baptist  Van 
Epps  and  Arnout  Cornelisse  Viele  set  out  for  Onondaga  Ap. 
21,  1699,  reaching  there  Ap.  28,  and  the  latter  two  remaining  for 
some  time.  At  the  council  the  young  Indians  kicked  the  French 
belts  to  a  sachem,  and  the  council  accepted  the  English  proposals 
and  would  come  to  Albany.  The  French  had  released  all  the 
Onondagas. 


252  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

A  council  met  in  Albany  June  13,  and  the  Onondagas  proposed 
the  building-  of  a  fort  in  their  country  and  the  sending  of  a  min- 
ister there.  The  Dowaganhaes  killed  some  Senecas  near  their 
castle,  and  incursions  of  French  Indians  were  frequent.  The 
French  should  prevent  these  in  a  time  of  peace.  One  important 
act  of  this  year  was  the  restoration  to  the  Mohawks  of  land 
fraudulently  obtained  from  them  by  Dellius. 

In  1700  there  was  an  alarm  that  the  Indians  intended  a  general 
massacre  in  the  English  colonies.  Bellomont  did  not  like  the 
provisioning  of  Fort  Frontenac  by  the  Onondagas  and  distrusted 
the  request  of  Father  Bruyas  to  go  among  them  and  the  Mo- 
hawks. He  favored  a  good  sod  fort  at  Onondaga,  with  a  garri- 
son of  100  men.  It  would  cost  from  £  1000  to  £1200.  The  Five 
Nations  should  have  presents  costing  £800.  He  used  to  laugh 
at  the  colonists  for  allowing  300  or  400  Indians  to  cut  off  four 
or  five  times  their  number,  but  he  was  wiser  now,  knowing  how 
they  fought.  Yet  their  own  losses  were  heavy.  Before  the  war 
the  Mohawks  had  270  men,  and  now  no.  The  Oneidas  were 
reduced  from  180  to  70,  the  Onondagas  from  500  to  250,  the 
Cayugas  from  300  to  200,  the  Senecas  from  1300  to  600.  Some 
of  these  figures  may  be  doubted. 

Robert  Livingston  was  at  Onondaga  in  April  1700,  and  this 
was  still  east  of  Butternut  creek.  It  was  no  place  for  a  fort, 
being  16  miles  from  water  unless  they  went  to  Kaneenda  on  Onon- 
daga lake.  The  town  itself  must  soon  be  moved.  The  Onon- 
dagas were  uneasy  and  dejected  about  the  French;  and  two 
thirds  of  the  Mohawks  were  in  Canada,  kindly  cared  for  by 
them.  The  English  ambassadors  arrived  at  Kachnawaacharege, 
an  Onondaga  fishing  place  on  Chittenango  creek,  A]).  23,  1700. 
Thence  they  went  to  Onondaga  and  were  heartily  welcomed, 
having  a  satisfactory  council. 

Stories  of  poisoning  were  prevalent  at  this  time  and  Aqueen- 
dero,  the  Onondaga  head  chief,  went  to  live  on  Schuyler's 
estate  on  this  account,  nor  did  he  long  survive.  His  son  had 
died  by  poison. 

M.  de  Maricourt,  Father  Bruyas  and  eight  more  Frenchmen 


HISTORY   OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  253 

came  to  Onondaga  July  24.  The  first  two  spoke  Iroquois  as 
fluently  as  French.  Among  the  warlike  Onondagas  there  were 
as  many  French  partizans  as  English,  and  there  were  slight  hopes 
of  retaining  them.  They  needed  English  ministers,  but  they 
said,  now  they  had  their  prisoners  back,  they  would  go  to  Canada 
no  more.  . 

At  this  time  five  Dowaganhaes,  or  Ottawas,  came  to  Onondaga 
to  make  peace  for  three  strong  nations.  The  French  had 
incited  them  to  hostilities,  but  they  had  settled  at  Tchojachiage, 
on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Ontario  near  the  Senecas,  and  desired 
peace.  With  the  Iroquois  and  English  they  wished  "  to  boil  in 
one  kettle,  eat  out  of  one  dish,  and  with  one  spoon,  and  so  be 
one."  The  other  Dowaganhaes  had  again  killed  many  Iroquois 
at  French  instigation.  They  would  not  take  the  hatchet  out  of 
their  heads  till  they  submitted  to  the  French  and  had  killed  40 
Senecas  that  spring.  The  French  governor  offered  to  take  the 
hatchet  from  the  Far  Indians  if  the  Iroquois  would  send  one 
from  each  nation  to  treat  with  him. 

At  this  time  the  Mohawks  told  the  eastern  Indians  that,  if  they 
lived  not  peaceably  with  the  English,  they  would  come  and  cut 
them  off,  and  they  submitted. 

Governor  Bellomont  conferred  in  Albany  Aug.  20,  1700,  with 
50  Iroquois  sachems,  not  allotted  as  in  the  condoling  lists.  There 
were  11  of  each  nation  except  the  Oneida,  and  this  had  six.  They 
were  glad  to  be  promised  ministers.  The  French  clothed  all 
whom  they  baptized,  but  probably  the  English  would  not  do 
that.  The  Mohawks  had  persuaded  Brandt  and  three  others  who 
were  going  to  Canada,  to  remain  and  be  Protestants.  The  Pray- 
ing Iroquois  of  Canada  now  numbered  350  men,  and  their  wish 
to  be  Christians  took  them  there. 

Colonel  Schuyler  and  all  the  Albany  people  opposed  the  Onon- 
daga fort,  as  they  wished  trade  at  Albany.  The  beaver  trade 
had  sunk  to  nothing  there,  and  the  Iroquois  hunts  led  to  con- 
stant wars. 

Colonel  Romer  was  in  the  Onondaga  country  in  October  1700, 
and  has  left  us  a  curious  map  of  his  travels  and  the  country. 


254  NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

His  party  came  to  Onondaga  Sep.  26,  by  the  old  trail  over  the 
hills,  and  on  horseback,  and  visited  Onondaga  lake  and  Seneca 
river.  Three  River  Point  did  not  suit  him  for  a  fort,  a  sound 
conclusion.  On  a  high  bank  on  Chittenango  creek  he  found  a 
good  site,  and  this  was  used  at  a  later  day.  His  reception  at 
Onondaga  was  not  cordial ;  for  the  Albany  people  had  made 
ready  for  his  coming.  In  preparation  for  the  fort,  £500  were 
sent  from  England,  as  much  more  raised  in  New  York,  arms 
and  tools  were  provided,  but  the  fort  was  not  built. 

The  coming  of  Maricourt,  Bruyas  and  Joncaire  was  occa- 
sioned by  the  Iroquois  embassy  to  Canada  early  in  the  year. 
They  then  condoled  Frontenac's  death  and  asked  that  Lamber- 
ville  and  Bruyas  might  return  to  them.  Peace  was  arranged 
and  a  treaty  signed  at  Montreal  Sep.  8.  There  was  a  prelim- 
inary conference  at  Montreal  July  18  with  the  Onondagas  and 
Senecas,  and  on  Sep.  3  the  19  Iroquois  deputies  brought  back  13 
French  prisoners.  At  Onondaga  Bruyas  had  profited  by  the 
tone  of  Bellomont's  message,  and  Joncaire  went  to  the  Senecas, 
who  liberated  all  their  prisoners.  Some  would  not  return  and 
but  10  came  back. 

The  Iroquois  had  hardly  returned  from  this  peace  conference 
before  word  came  that  the  Ottawas  had  attacked  their  hunters, 
killing  some  and  capturing  others.  At  this  council  the  Iroquois 
were  so  well  received  that  the  Hurons  said  "  that  fear  made  the 
French  show  more  respect  to  their  enemies  than  love  did  to  their 
friends."     There  was  reason  for  this,  and  Bellomont  said  : 

I  pretend  to  be  able  to  demonstrate  that  if  the  Five  Nations 
should  at  any  time  in  conjunction  with  the  Eastern  Indians,  and 
those  that  live  within  these  plantations,  revolt  from  the  English 
to  the  French,  they  would  in  a  short  time  drive  us  out  of  this 
Continent. 

Their  mode  of  warfare  made  them  powerful,  but  ho  bad  trials 
in  meeting  them.     Of  a  council  in  Albany  he  said: 

It  was  the  greatesl  fatigue  I  ever  underwent  in  my  whole  life, 
r  was  shut  up  in  a  close  chamber  with  50  Sachems,  who  besides 
the  stink  of  bears'  grease,  with  which  they  plentifully  dawb'd 
themselves,  were  either  smoaking  tobacco  or  drinking  drams 
of  rum. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  255 

Bellomont  complained  that  Schuyler  made  himself  popular 
by  entertaining  Aquendeeo  (Atotarho?)  alias  Sadeganaktie, 
speaker  of  the  Five  Nations,  and  25  others,  for  two  months  at 
the  king's  expense.  In  the  notice  of  the  chief's  death  that  winter, 
he  is  called  by  the  full  Onondaga  council  name  of  Sakoghsinna- 
kichte,  equivalent  to  Sadeganaghtie,  and  his  successor  immedi- 
ately took  both  his  names,  but  is  best  known  by  the  latter. 

June  19,  1701,  Maricourt  came  again  to  Kaneenda,  the  landing 
place  at  Onondaga  lake  and  8  miles  from  the  town,  to  which  he 
was  escorted  under  the  French  flag.  Bleecker  and  Schuyler 
were  already  there,  but  wrould  have  nothing  to  do  with  the 
French.  Maricourt  carried  things  with  a  high  hand,  and  Dekan- 
issora  went  to  Kaneenda  to  arrange  matters  with  him.  Onon- 
daga deputies  had  reached  Montreal  Mar.  2  with  complaints 
against  the  western  Indians,  and  Maricourt  returned  with  them. 
He  was  surprised  to  find  Englishmen  there.  Dekanissora  allowed 
all  the  captives  at  Onondaga  to  return,  but  some  had  married 
there  and  would  not  go.  It  was  the  same  elsewhere,  but  Joncaire 
brought  some  from  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas,  being  now  resident 
agent  with  the  latter.  The  Oneidas  would  give  up  no  prisoners, 
but  five  at  last  went  from  Onondaga.  Dekanissora  said  the 
French  had  50  or  60  prisoners  from  the  Iroquois  last  fall  and 
they  had  none  in  return.  He  favored  having  a  minister  from 
and  trade  with  those  who  would  do  the  best  by  them.  The 
Onondagas  already  had  a  reputation  as  "  men  of  business." 

After  Bruyas  brought  back  the  French  prisoners  in  1700, 
Fathers  Jacques  de  Lamberville,  Julien  Gamier  and  Le  Vaillant 
were  sent  to  the  Onondagas  and  Senecas.  Fathers  d'Heu  and 
De  Mareuil  followed,  remaining  till  1709,  the  former  being  resi- 
dent there  last  of  all. 

A  council  was  held  at  Montreal  Aug.  4,  1701,  at  which  all  of 
the  western  nations  were  represented,  with  the  Iroquois  and 
French.  In  this  the  Iroquois  promised  neutrality  between  the 
French  and  English.  Prisoners  were  restored,  and  a  general 
peace  was  signed  with  great  ceremonies,  in  a  place  specially 
prepared. 


256  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Governor  Bellomont  had  died,  and  Lieutenant  Governor  Nan- 
fan  held  a  conference  with  the  Five  Nations  at  Albany  July  10, 
1 701,  when  the  first  beaver  land  trust  deed  was  given.  This 
comprised  the  land  north  and  northwest  of  Lake  Ontario  and 
Lake  Erie,  the  latter  being  often  called  Sweege,  the  equivalent 
of  Oswego.  Both  shores  of  this  were  included,  and  Nanfan 
described  the  tract  as  800  miles  long  and  400  broad.  It  was 
designed  to  prevent  French  claims  and  was  signed  by  20  chiefs 
from  all  the  nations.  He  told  them  they  should  not  have  allowed 
a  French  fort  at  Detroit.  Most  of  this  great  tract  was  in  Canada, 
and  they  said  they  had  taken  it  from  the  Agaritkas  or  Hurons, 
60  years  before.  There  was  a  later  trust  deed  of  lands  south  of 
the  lakes. 

At  a  council  in  Philadelphia,  Ap.  23,  1701,  Ahookassongh  was 

present  and  was  called  "  the  brother  of  the  great  Emperor  of 

the   Onondagas."      William   Penn   had   addressed   a  letter  from 

London  June  25,  1682,  "  To  the  Emperor  of  Canada,"  intending 

the  same  ruler.     He  said : 

The  Great  God  that  made  thee  and  me,  and  all  the  world, 
Incline  our  hearts  to  love,  peace  and  Justice,  that  we  may  live 
friendly  together,  as  becomes  the  workmanship  of  the  great  God. 
The  King  of  England,  who  is  a  Great  Prince,  hath  for  Divers 
Reasons  Granted  to  me  a  large  Country  in  America,  which,  how- 
ever, I  am  willing  to  Injoy  upon  friendly  terms  with  thee.  And 
this  I  will  say,  that  the  people  who  comes  with  me  are  a  just, 
plain,  and  honest  people,  that  neither  make  war  upon  others  nor 
fear  war  from  others,  because  they  will  be  just.  I  have  sett  up  a 
Society  of  Traders  in  my  Province,  to  traffick  with  thee  and  thy 
people  for  your  Commodities,  that  you  may  be  furnished  with 
that  which  is  good  at  reasonable  rates.  And  this  Society  hath 
ordered  their  President  to  treat  with  thee  about  a  future  Trade, 
and  have  joined  with  me  to  send  their  Messenger  to  thee,  with 
certain  Presents  from  us,  to  testify  our  Willingness  to  have  a 
fair  Correspondence  with  thee:  And  what  this  Agent  shall  do  in 
our  names  we  will  agree  unto.  I  hope  thou  wilt  kindly  Receive 
him,  and  Comply  with  his  desires  on  our  behalf,  both  with  respect 
to   Land  and  Trade.     The  Great  God  be  with  thee.      Amen. 

The  coming  of  several  French  priests  has  been  mentioned.     The 

Onondagas  were  aboul  equally  divided  on  this,  but  Lamberville 

had  a  house  and  chapel  there  in    1702.      Maricourt  installed  him 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  257 

in  these,  and  mass  and  a  Te  Deum  were  sung  in  the  chapel 
before  he  left  there  that  year.  Lamberville  was  well  received  by 
all  the  Onondagas  except  Dekanissora's  family,  and  of  them 
there  are  conflicting  accounts.  Joncaire  was  adopted  by  the 
Senecas.  That  year  also  Garakontie'  2  died,  ceasing  only  with 
his  last  breath  his  kindness  to  the  French.  His  nephew  took 
his  place  as  French  correspondent  at  Onondaga.  Charlevoix 
said  that  the  old  chief  "  found  more  than  once  the  means  of 
defeating  the  intrigues  of  the  English,  and  to  him  we  were  fre- 
quently indebted  for  safety  in  the  most  serious  difficulties." 

Lord  Cornbury  feared  the  loss  of  three  of  the  Five  Nations; 
and  it  was  quite  generally  recognized  that  English  missionaries 
among  them  had  become  a  political  necessity.  In  a  council  in 
1702  the  Iroquois  chiefs  sang  a  mournful  song  on  the  death  of 
King  William. 

In  1704  the  Iroquois  again  had  trouble  with  the  western 
Indians.  The  Ottawas  had  carried  off  30  Senecas  near  Fort 
Frontenac  and  had  treacherously  attacked  them  elsewhere,  being 
determined  on  war.  By  good  fortune  the  commander  at  Detroit 
was  able  to  restore  the  prisoners  the  Ottawas  had  made.  M.  de 
.Uaricourt  had  died,  and  his  brother,  Baron  de  Longueuil,  suc- 
ceeded him  at  Onondaga.  Peter  Schuyler  sent  belts  to  the  Can- 
adian Iroquois;  but  the  French  got  hold  of  them  and  had  them 
returned  by  the  Onondagas  without  answer.  That  year  some 
Iroquois  chiefs  were  at  a  council  in  Pennsylvania,  and  questions 
of  land  and  southern  warfare  brought  them  there  with  increasing 
frequency. 

In  1706  Vaudreuil  sent  Joncaire  to  Michilimackinac  to  main- 
tain the  peace  between  the  Ottawas  and  Iroquois,  the  safety  of 
Canada  depending  on  peace  with  the  latter.  The  Ottawas  prom- 
ised to  make  reparation,  and,  though  slow  about  it,  at  last  did  so. 

An  Indian  showed  a  fine  belt  of  21  rows  at  Philadelphia  in 
T706,  "which  Belt,  he  said,  was  a  pledge  of  peace  formerly 
delvd.  by  the  Onondagoe  Indians,  one  of  the  5  Nations  to  the 
Nantikokes,  when  they  made  the  said  Nantikokes  tributaries." 
The  Iroquois  would  soon  receive  this  tribute,  which  had  then 


258  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

been  paid  for  26  years,  or  since  1680.  The  next  year  they  took 
20  belts  and  some  strings  to  Onondaga. 

The  French  again  proposed  to  secure  Niagara  through  Jon- 
caire's  influence  with  the  Senecas.  Of  him  it  was  said  later, 
"  He  is  daring,  liberal,  speaks  the  language  in  great  perfection, 
hesitates  not  even  whenever  it  is  necessary  to  decide." 

In  spite  of  the  French,  the  Indians  would  carry  furs  to  the 
English,  and  their  own  men  would  desert.  An  Onondaga  had 
killed  a  deserter  in  1708  and  claimed  that  the  French  said  such 
men  were  already  dead.  They  had  to  yield.  That  year  an 
Englishman  was  for  some  months  among  the  Onondagas,  Cay- 
ugas  and  Senecas.  When  he  proposed  a  fort  at  Gaskonchiague',  or 
Oswego  Falls,  and  another  at  the  head  of  Lake  Thiroguen,  or  Oneida 
lake,  they  refused  the  first  and  referred  the  other  to  the  Oneidas. 

Father  d'  Heu  also  wrote,  May  24,  1708,  that  two  Onondagas 
had  gone  to  the  Gannaouans  in  Virginia,  who  had  an  ambuscade 
near  Onondaga  the  year  before.  They  carried  several  belts. 
The  Onondagas  were  troubled  over  the  pretended  settlement  of 
the  Ottawas  at  Fort  Frontenac  and  Niagara,  and  the  French 
posts  at  Niagara  and  La  Galette.  In  case  of  war  all  this  would  be 
to  their  disadvantage. 

The  English  blacksmith  had  returned  to  Onondaga,  but  the 
French  party  concealed  the  anvil  in  the  priest's  house,  eventually 
giving  it  up.  They  wanted  a  French  smith,  which  he  thought 
"  would  be  very  important  for  the  good  of  religion  and  the 
French  colony." 

De  Tonty  was  reported  to  have  retained  Indian  presents  while 
refusing  their  requests.  This  was  contrary  to  their  custom  and 
displeased  them.  There  were  hints,  also,  that  Joncaire  made 
money  by  the  use  of  his  office  and  public  presents.  That  year 
the  Indian  Montour  family  first  came  to  notice.  The  father  was 
a  Frenchman  who  had  a  son  and  two  daughters  by  an  Indian 
wife,  and  they  became  prominent.  In  1708  the  son  brought  12 
of  the  Far  Indians  to  trade  at  Albany;  they  had  come  800  miles. 
There  may  have  been  several  families  of  this  name.  Joncaire 
killed  the  original  Montour  in  1721  by  Vaudreuil's  order. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  259 

The  New  England  people  thought  the  Five  Nations  should 
help  them  against  the  French  Indians ;  and,  when  two  Mohawk 
spies  returned  from  Canada  in  1709,  the  governor  advised  them 
to  go  by  the  St  Lawrence,  as  war  parties  were  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  they  might  be  killed.  A  large  party  had  gone  against 
New  England  ;  and  Governor  Vaudreuil  had  heard  the  hatchet 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Five  Nations,  but  he  would  let 
the  English  strike  first.  Then  he  could  easily  take  Albany  at 
any  time. 

Joncaire  could  not  be  everywhere ;  and,  while  he  was  with 
the  Senecas,  Abraham  Schuyler  sang  the  war  song  at  Onon- 
daga, giving  the  hatchet  to  the  Indians.  He  induced  Father 
Lamberville  to  go  to  Montreal  to  report,  and  then  persuaded 
Father  de  Mareuil  that  his  life  was  in  danger  and  took  him  to 
Albany.  Some  Onondagas  then  pillaged  and  burned  his  house 
and  chapel.  Joncaire  heard  of  this  and  thought  it  best  to  keep 
away,  returning  to  his  Seneca  friends,  where  Father  d'Heu 
then  was. 

Peter  Schuyler  had  persuaded  all  but  the  Senecas  to  side  with 
the  English;  but  the  Mohawks  and  Onondagas  sent  word  to 
Canada  that  they  did  not  really  wish  war,  and  40  Senecas  were 
well  received  at  Montreal  by  Governor  Vaudreuil. 

Chapter  14 

Tributary  nations.  Conestoga  council.  Indian  chiefs  in  England.  Inter- 
est in  them.  French  fort  at  Onondaga.  Iroquois  at  Albany.  Mohawk 
fort  and  chapel.  Delaware  tribute.  Peace  of  Utrecht.  Tuscaroras 
adopted.  French  post  at  Irondequoit.  Catawbas.  Peace  with  the 
French.  French  post  at  Niagara.  Hendrick  restored.  Governor  Bur- 
net. Pennsylvania  lands.  Boundary  between  Six  Nations  and  Virginia 
Indians.  English  post  at  Irondequoit.  Colonial  conference  at  Albany. 
Far  Indians  at  Albany.     Conference  with  Massachusetts. 

In  1709  the  chiefs  of  the  Mingoes,  Ganawese  and  Delawares  on 
the  Susquehanna  purposed  going  to  Onondaga  with  their  tribute, 
but  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania  thought  it  a  bad  time,  as  he 
wished  to  employ  the  Five  Nations  against  Canada.  Many  were 
already  engaged  by  the  English.  These  chiefs  "  had  prepared  for 
their  journey  Twenty  four  Belts  of  Wampum  to  be  presented  to 


20O  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

them  as  their  Tribute."  That  year  the  governors  of  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania  were  to  "  contract  with  the  five  nations  to  make 
with  all  speed  as  many  Canoes  as  may  be  wanted  "  for  an  expe- 
dition against  Canada,  and  to  engage  as  many  warriors  as 
possible. 

An  important  council  was  attended  by  the  governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania in  1709,  at  Conestoga,  some  Seneca  and  Tuscarora 
chiefs  being  present.  The  Tuscaroras  presented  eight  belts 
"  as  an  Introduction,  &  in  order  to  break  off  hostilities  till  next 
Spring,  for  then  their  Kings  will  come  &  sue  for  the  peace  they 
so  much  Desire."  They  were  told  they  could  come  and  would 
be  protected  if  they  lived  peaceably.  The  Senecas  thanked  the 
white  people  for  coming  and  said  the  belts  would  be  sent  to  the 
Five  Nations. 

English  forts  were  planned  at  Lake  George  and  Crown  Point. 
and  some  were  built  on  Wood  creek,  at  one  of  which  1600  men 
were  assembled.  Many  bateaux  and  100  birch  canoes  were 
provided,  but  on  a  French  advance  all  were  destroyed.  During 
these  fruitless  efforts  New  York  employed  600  Indians  and 
maintained-  1000  of  their  wives  and  children  at  Albany. 

Colonel  Schuyler  had  found  England  indifferent  to  the  Indians, 
and  now  took  some  River  Indians  and  Mohawks  there  to  rouse 
some  interest.  It  was  a  successful  move.  They  had  many  and 
great  attentions  and  were  received  at  court,  returning  home  in 
1710.  With  them  Queen  Anne  sent  medals  for  all  the  Five 
Nations  and  promised  better  things. 

De  la  Chauvignerie  was  sent  to  Onondaga  in  1710  and  was 
well  received.  July  17,  De  Longueuil  and  Joncaire  made  pro- 
posals there  to  the  Onondagas  and  Oneidas,  threatening  to 
destroy  them  if  they  sided  with  the  English.  This  led  the  for- 
mer to  ask  an  English  fort  in  their  land  and  that  strong  drink 
might  be   forbidden   in   their   castles.     It  was  destroying  them. 

An  unimportant  council  was  held  at  Albany;  but  Governor 
Hunter  before  this  had  arrested  the  Iroquois  hatchet  against  the 
Flatheads,  and  the  suspected  Senecas  had  renewed  the  cove- 
nant, into  which  the  Dowaganhaes,  or  Ottawas,  had  also  entered. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  26l 

De  Longueuil,  Joncaire  and  others  were  at  Onondaga  in  April 
171 1,  to  build  a  trading  house,  bringing  with  them  £600  in  pres- 
ents, mostly  ammunition.  Colonel  Schuyler  was  sent  there  at 
once  with  six  men.  The  Onondagas  had  given  the  French  a 
lot  in  the  midst  of  their  castle,  and  they  began  work  April  19. 
Schuyler  reached  there  May  17;  but  De  Longueuil  had  stopped 
work  and  gone  to  Kaneenda,  at  the  lake.  A  council  was  held  at 
once,  and  the  Onondagas  said  the  Minquas  or  Conestogas 
reported  that  the  French  and  English  had  agreed  to  destroy 
them  and  take  their  land.  The  French  said  they  would  not  but 
the  English  would,  and  advised  them  to  be  neutral  and  send 
messengers  to  Canada.  Schuyler  denied  the  story  and  gave 
them  the  British  arms  to  set  up,  sending  these  also  to  the  Cay- 
ugas  and  Senecas. 

De  Longueuil  had  24  Frenchmen,  with  their  officers,  and  had 
left  the  unfinished  blockhouse  in  charge  of  a  chief  who  was  sent 
for.  It  was  2^/2  feet  long  by  18  feet  wide,  covered  with  boards 
and  nailed.  The  Indians  said  Schuyler  might  leave  or  destroy 
the  house,  but  they  would  first  send  word  to  the  French  at 
Kaneenda.  He  destroyed  this  and  some  lumber  sawed  for  a 
chapel,  which  ended  the  trouble  at  this  time. 

In  August  some  Hurons  came  to  the  Cayugas  to  know  who 
had  killed  their  men.  The  Senecas  said  they  had  not,  but  the 
others  justified  the  killing,  on  which  the  Hurons  said  they  would 
fight.  On  the  24th  500  Iroquois  came  to  Albany  and  reported 
more  coming.  Marching  down  the  hill,  they  were  saluted  with 
five  guns  as  they  passed  the  fort.  The  French  paid  them  similar 
honors.  In  the  council  each  nation  sat  by  itself,  and  all  agreed 
to  help  the  colonists,  being  ready  to  join  the  troops  who  had 
already  marched.  Ammunition  was  freely  supplied.  Out  of 
682  Indians  going  to  war  26  were  Shawnees. 

Dekanissora  was  speaker,  and  they  wished  the  Praying  Indians 
might  be  neutral.  They  would  treat  prisoners  as  Christians  did 
and  asked  instructions.  Lieutenant  Governor  Nanfan  gave  each 
nation  pictures  of  the  four  Indians  who  had  been  in  England. 
Queen  Anne  had  ordered  forts  to  be  built  and  missionaries  sent, 


262  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

and  had  furnished  silver  communion  sets  for  the  Indians,  one 
being  now  in  Canada  and  the  other  in  Albany.  Contracts  were 
made  for  building  forts  and  chapels  in  the  Mohawk  and  Onon- 
daga country,  to  be  finished  in  1713.  The  fort  at  Onondaga  was 
to  be  near  the  town  and  water,  but  it  was  not  built,  nor  was  their 
chapel,  so  that  the  articles  intended  for  it  always  remained  at  Albany. 

The  Indians  wished  that  the  war  kettle  might  continue  to  boil, 
i.  e.  the  war  continue.  Dekanissora  said  they  did  not  fight  like 
the  whites.  "  AY  hen  we  have  war  against  any  nation,  Wee 
endeavor  to  destroy  them  utterly."  The  queen's  arms  in  their 
castles  would  not  defend  them,  they  wanted  powder  and  ball. 
Two  Onondagas  visited  Canada;  and  Governor  Vaudreuil  sent 
word  by  them  that  he  must  now  make  prisoners.  The  Canadian 
Indians  took  the  French  hatchet  gladly,  and  the  western  tribes 
with  some  hesitation. 

The  Delawares  carried  32  belts  to  Onondaga  as  their  tribute 
in  1 7 12,  and  had  with  them  a  large  calumet,  given  them  "  upon 
making  their  submissions  to  the  Five  Nations,  who  had  subdued 
them  and  obliged  them  to  be  their  tributaries."  They  said  some 
of  them  were  infants  when  this  occurred,  so  that  it  could  hardly 
have  been  earlier  than  1650.  After  a  kind  reception  some  Sen- 
ecas  returned  with  them,  bringing  belts  to  the  governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  asking  friendship  and  open  trade.  At  this  time 
the  Conestogas  were  at  war  with  the  Tuscaroras  and  other 
southern  Indians,  having  taken  the  English  side. 

The  Senecas  were  under  French  influence.  As  they  went  to 
Montreal  that  year,  the  Onondagas  stopped  them,  inviting  them 
to  a  general  Iroquois  council  at  Fort  Frontenac.  This  proposal 
troubled  the  French;  for  it  was  not  usual  to  treat  there.  Jon 
caire  was  at  Onondaga;  but  Vaudreuil  sent  Longueuil  and  Chau- 
vignerie  there,  as  Peter  Schuyler  had  been  there  twice  and  had 
brought  Madame  Montour  and  her  husband,  to  remove  jeal- 
ousies created  by  the  French.  Before  the  Montours  arrived  in 
August,  some  of  the  Indians  had  gone  to  Albany,  and  in  spite 
of  the  rest  the  Srnecas  would  go  to  Montreal.  The  other  four 
nations  continued   their  meetings  at  Onondaga  and  had   made 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  263 

part  of  their  war  canoes.  Indians  from  Virginia  had  been  there ; 
but  Joncaire  thought  Schuyler  would  keep  the  Iroquois  from 
western  warfare,  as  this  disturbed  his  fur  trade. 

The  Senecas  came  to  Montreal  and  said  Dekanissora  was  sing- 
ing the  war  song.  Four  of  their  nations  would  fight,  but  they 
wished  no  western  war,  as  they  always  suffered  most.  Several 
reports  came  to  Montreal  in  September,  that  the  council  still 
continued,  and  there  would  be  war  without  Seneca  aid.  French 
messengers  went  to  Michilimackinac  and  to  the  Illinois  and 
Miamis  to  warn  them  of  probable  danger. 

On  the  other  hand,  Governor  Hunter  said  the  Iroquois  were 
quiet  again,  though  it  was  reported  that  they  aided  the  Tusca- 
roras.  A  good  fort  and  chapel  had  been  built  for  the  Mohawks, 
where  he  had  a  missionary  and  20  officers  and  men  and  he  hoped 
much  from  this  prudent  measure. 

The  peace  of  Utrecht  came  in  171 3  and  the  hatchet  was  taken 
from  the  Indians.  Messrs  Hansen,  Bleecker  and  Clausen  were 
sent  to  Onondaga  in  September,  meeting  Dekanissora  on  the 
way,  who  returned  with  them.  Half  a  mile  from  Onondaga  150 
Indians  met  and  welcomed  them,  and  on  the  20th  the  sachems 
held  a  council,  "  and  spoke  with  three  strings  of  wampum  in 
their  loftiest  style." 

Four  southern  Indians  came  with  belts,  and  the  English  were 
asked  to  mediate  between  those  of  Carolina  and  the  Tuscaroras. 
The  latter  went  out  from  the  Onondagas  and  settled  southward. 
They  had  been  at  war,  were  dispersed,  had  left  their  castles, 
and  asked  that  they  might  not  be  hunted  down.  In  a  sudden 
outbreak  in  September  1711,  they  had  killed  130  persons  in  one 
day,  but  lost  many  of  their  own  people  the  same  year.  The 
southern  Indians  sided  with  the  colonists,  the  strong  Tuscarora 
fort  of  Naharuke  was  taken  Mar.  26,  1713.  and  800  prisoners 
were  sold  as  slaves.  On  this  they  made  peace,  most  of  them 
going  to  New  York.  Their  plea  was  heeded,  and  after  the 
council  the  English  mounted  their  horses,  the  Indians  cheering 
as  they  left.  The  Onondaga  fort  was  to  be  built  as  soon  as 
possible. 


264  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

A  council  was  held  with  the  Iroquois  at  Albany  Sep.  20,  1714. 
They  had  heard  the  southern  colonies  intended  cutting  them 
off,  which  they  would  not  believe  were  powder  cheaper,  but  on 
this  they  had  recalled  a  war  party  of  40  Senecas  and  100  Onon- 
dagas.  The  governor  denied  the  report,  but  would  try  to  have 
powder  cheaper,  giving  them  handsome  presents  and  beer  to 
drink  the  queen's  health.  Dekanissora  promised  to  send  expresses 
to  all  the  nations  to  tell  them  there  was  no  truth  in  the  report.  They 
said  the  warriors  were  young  men,  and  it  would  depend  on  them 
whether  they  buried  the  hatchet  against  the  Flatheads.  They  had 
no  good  clothes  to  wear  to  church,  and  deferred  the  missionary  ques- 
tion till  goods  were  cheaper  and  they  could  go  well  dressed.  The 
Senecas  wished  a  smith  at  a  hamlet  between  them  and  the  Cayugas. 
The  Tuscaroras  now  lived  among  them,  though  a  few  remained 
south,  and  Governor  Hunter  was  to  look  on  them  as  their  chil- 
dren, who  would  live  peaceably  between  Onondaga  and  Oneida. 
A  tract  had  been  assigned  them  in  what  is  now  Madison  county. 

In  1715  the  French  were  still  intriguing,  and  there  were  idle 
stories  of  an  intended  French  fort  at  Onondaga.  These  troubled 
those  in  power  only  as  it  might  affect  trade,  for  the  traders 
then  cared  more  for  private  profit  than  the  public  good.  Gov- 
ernor Hunter  tried  to  have  the  Five  Nations  go  against  those 
Indians  in  Carolina  who  had  attacked  the  English  there,  and 
said  the  friendly  Indians  on  the  Susquehanna  had  brought  home 
30  prisoners.     He  was  not  aware  that  the  war  was  over. 

At  a  council  in  Albany  Aug.  27,  1715,  Dekanissora  returned 
the  unfortunate  hatchet  given  him  against  Canada,  and  they 
must  never  give  so  poor  a  one  again.  If  used,  it  must  be  new 
steeled.  They  would  close  the  southern  warpath,  though  war- 
riors were  still  out.  Their  story  about  southern  troubles  dif- 
fered from  that  of  the  English,  who  had  the  Flatheads  or  Cataw- 
bas  help  them  there  against  the  Tuscaroras.  The  Catawbas 
were  faithless  and  ought  to  be  conquered  themselves.  They 
lamented  the  deatli  of  Queen  Anne,  and  afterward  sent  mes- 
sengers south. 

De  Longueuil  was  at  Onondaga  in   1716  and  thought  a  fort 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  265 

necessary  at  Niagara.  Preliminary  to  this,  a  French  trading 
house  was  built  that  year  at  Irondequoit,  but  the  goods  came 
from  Albany  by  way  of  Montreal.  Two  wooden  houses  were 
also  built  at  Albany  for  the  use  of  the  Indians.  They  were  ioo 
yards  behind  the  fort  and  each  was  15  by  70  feet. 

The  Five  Nations  called  the  Catawbas  Toderichroone,  and 
said  they  were  treacherous,  for,  after  concluding  peace  in  1714, 
they  immediately  murdered  some  Iroquois,  and  war  continued. 
In  1717  a  party  of  400  or  500  young  Iroquois  went  as  far  as  the 
Susquehanna  on  their  way  to  Virginia.  They  were  persuaded 
to  turn  westward,  but  soon  resumed  their  course  and  attacked 
140  Catawbas.  The  governor  at  last  got  Connaughtoora  to  hold 
a  council  at  Williamsburg.  He  refused  to  make  peace  with  the 
Catawbas  on  any  terms,  but  would  not  harm  the  Christianna 
Indians.  This  war  continued  till  part  of  the  Catawbas  were 
adopted. 

Governor  Vaudreuil  held  a  council  with  the  Senecas  Oct.  24, 
1717,  having  sent  Joncaire  to  the  Iroquois  country  in  December 
1716.  They  had  attacked  the  Illinois  and  made  some  prisoners. 
Another  band  went  toward  the  Mississippi  but  soon  returned, 
having  lost  their  captain  and  others  by  smallpox.  The  Senecas 
thought  the  war  should  be  stopped.  Some  were  suspicious  of 
Joncaire,  yet,  when  deputies  came  from  all  in  September,  the 
Onondaga  speaker,  after  having  bewailed  the  French  king's 
death,  asked  Longueuil  and  his  son,  Joncaire  and  Chauvignerie 
to  come  to  their  villages  freely,  they  having  adopted  the  last  two. 
They  feared  not  to  displease  the  English. 

In  1718  the  Iroquois  were  at  peace  with  the  French  but  at 
war  with  the  Flatheads,  and  thought  the  English  supplied  them 
with  arms.  Governor  Vaudreuil  said  he  was  not  surprised.  At 
that  time  the  Senecas  had  a  village  at  Niagara,  earning  a  good 
deal  as  carriers  at  the  portage.  A  fine  cart  road  there  was  used 
several  times  a  year. 

When  Dckanissora  was  at  Albany  July  6,  1719,  he  said  the 
French  were  building  a  fort  at  Niagara,  where  they  would  keep 
horses  and  carts,  but  did  it  without  leave.     The  house  was  30 


266  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

by  40  feet.  The  Senecas  at  first  objected,  but  at  last  allowed  it. 
They  did  not  claim  full  jurisdiction  at  Niagara,  as  it  was  not 
theirs  originally  and  was  conquered  by  all.  He  would  not  take 
a  belt  to  Onondaga,  being  in  Albany  only  as  a  private  person. 
At  this  time  the  French  tried  to  have  Madame  Montour  settle 
in  Canada. 

In  May  1720  Myndert  Schuyler  and  Robert  Livingston  jr 
went  to  the  Senecas  to  desire  them  to  bury  the  hatchet  against 
all  Indians  allied  to  the  English  and  to  remonstrate  against  the 
Niagara  fort.  The  Senecas  said  they  would  await  the  Far 
Indians  who  were  said  to  be  coming  against  them,  and  would 
send  sachems  with  Lawrence  Claese  to  forbid  the  fort  at  Niagara. 
The  three  Frenchmen  there  said  they  had  leave  from  the  young- 
Seneca  warriors  and  would  not  destroy  the  house  without  orders 
from  Canada.  The  chiefs  knew  of  no  such  leave.  On  his  return 
Claese  met  a  French  smith,  sent  to  Niagara  to  work  for  the  Senecas 
gratis.  Claese  called  the  Seneca  sachems  together  again  and 
repeated  his  words  before  Joncaire,  who  made  a  retort. 

Messengers  came  to  Albany  in  August  from  all  but  the  Sen- 
ecas. Joncaire  had  been  among  them  to  keep  them  at  home, 
telling  them  that,  if  the  English  destroyed  this  house,  it  would 
cost  blood,  and  they  believed  him.  The  other  nations  thought 
it  a  damage.  Dekanissora  jr,  a  Cayuga  chief,  thought  the  Eng- 
lish ells  should  be  longer  and  their  pounds  heavier.  If  well 
provisioned  for  their  home  journey,  the  Christians'  rattle  would 
not  suffer,  but  hunger  was  a  sharp  sword. 

Hendrick,  the  Mohawk,  having  been  suspended  as  a  sachem 
four  years  before,  was  restored.  1  [e  said  the  Indians  could  not 
live  peaceably  in  their  castles  as  long  as  rum  was  so  plenty. 
He  and  Brandt  had  been  to  England  some  years  before,  as 
Mohawk  kings. 

Governor  Burnet  thought  the  Indian  trade  could  be  preserved 
by  repairing-  the  forts,  building  others  at  Niagara  and  Onondaga, 
and  forbidding  the  carrying  of  Indian  goods  to  Canada.  The 
French  claimed  that  the  English  had  proposed  settling  at  Niagara 
and  taking  horses  then-.     This  led  to  the   French  post,  and  Jon- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  267 

caire  was  sent  as  best  qualified  to  prevent  the  building  of  the 
English  house.  The  Indians,  however,  still  traded  at  Albany, 
not  finding  good  clothes  at  Niagara.  In  the  early  part  of  Gov- 
ernor Hunter's  administration,  the  Palatines  had  come  to  Xew 
York ;  and  he  closed  his  term  with  a  warning.  If  war  should 
come  with  the  Five  Nations,  "  the  best  part  of  the  province  will 
certainly  be  ruined." 

The  Mission  of  the  Mountain  had  been  for  nearly  20  years  at 
the  Sault  au  Recollect,  near  Montreal,  but  in  1720  it  was  removed 
to  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains,  at  the  end  of  the  island. 
The  Indians  of  this  and  Caughnawaga  were  hostile  to  New  Eng- 
land, and  there  are  yet  descendants  of  their  English  prisoners 
there  and  at  St  Regis.  Some  went  west,  and  a  new  Caughna- 
waga arose  on  the  Muskingum. 

By  conquest  much  of  Pennsylvania  belonged  to  the  Iroquois, 
and  this  claim  they  had  before  asserted,  while  assenting  to  some 
early  acts.  In  1720  the  Six  Nations,  as  they  were  now  often 
called,  were  dissatisfied  with  the  increasing  settlements  on  the 
Susquehanna,  to  which  the  Cayugas  made  special  claim.  About 
1700  Governor  Perm  had  bought  some  of  these  lands  of  the 
Conestogas,  and  the  Five  Nations  afterward  assented  to  this. 
Another  amicable  settlement  came  later,  but  other  claims  led  to 
many  councils  and  much  intercourse  between  Philadelphia  and 
Onondaga.    The  usual  route  was  by  the  Susquehanna. 

In  1721  it  was  stated  that  De  Longueuil  had  been  adopted  by 
the  Onondagas,  his  family  being  also  of  that  nation.  Joncaire 
was  an  adopted  Seneca,  and  so  both  were  commonly  in  the  Iro- 
quois towns.  Governor  Burnet  heard  that  the  Senecas  were 
growing  cold  toward  them.  That  year  Joncaire,  Longueuil  and 
Chauvignerie  went  to  the  Senecas,  thanking  them  for  their  good 
will  and  asking  them  to  go  to  Onondaga  and  call  a  council,  to 
refuse  the  English  passage  if  they  came  to  destroy  the  fort.  The 
Senecas  were  divided  on  this,  the  fort  not  being  on  their  original 
land.  June  20,  John  Durant,  a  French  chaplain,  met  Joncaire 
at  Oswego,  returning  from  Onondaga.  He  said  he  had  beaten 
the  bush  and   De  Longueuil  would  take  the  birds.     Next   day 


268  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

Durant  met  the  latter  and  Chauvignerie  above  Oswego  Falls, 
and  he  said  four  nations  had  given  him  good  words.  These  falls 
had  the  same  Indian  name  as  those  on  the  Genesee  river,  and  this 
has  caused  some  confusion  of  places. 

Governor  Burnet  held  a  council  with  the  Six  Nations,  Sep.  7, 
1721.  The  Virginia  Indians  had  proposed  that  the  Potomac  river 
and  the  high  mountains  westward  should  be  the  dividing  line  for 
their  hunting  parties,  neither  passing  beyond  without  permission. 
The  Iroquois  agreed  to  this  boundary.  The  governor  had  been 
told  that,  since  the  Virginia  belt  came,  some  of  the  Iroquois  had 
gone  with  French  Indians  against  those  of  Virginia,  a  frequent 
practice. 

This  month,  also,  Peter  Schuyler  jr  was  sent  to  the  Seneca 
country  with  a  party  of  young  men,  who  were  willing  to  stay 
and  trade  there  for  a  year.  Their  house  was  at  Irondequoit, 
and  they  were  not  to  trade  with  the  Indians  farther  east  but 
with  any  of  those  west.  They  were  also  to  encourage  the  French 
coureurs  de  bois  to  bring  their  furs  to  the  English,  they  being 
willing  if  protected. 

Another  council  was  held  at  Albany  Aug.  2y,  1722.  The  Iro- 
quois had  done  as  they  agreed  last  year,  sending  messengers  to 
the  Far  Indians  to  come  and  trade.  Blew  Bek,  chief  sachem  of 
the  Senecas,  had  been  to  Canada  with  others  and  was  coming  to 
Albany  to  tell  what  the  French  said.  Three  companies  of  their 
people  had  gone  against  the  Flatheads.  The  governor  of  Vir- 
ginia was  present  and  promised  that  the  10  nations  of  Virginia 
should  not  pass  the  line,  and  the  Iroquois  promised  the  same  for 
themselves,  the  Tuscaroras  and  for  four  nations  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna. He  gave  them  a  golden  horseshoe  as  a  passport 
when  they  wished  to  send  to  him. 

Governor  Keith,  of  Pennsylvania,  also  conferred  with  them, 
and  they  called  him  Onas,  meaning  a  pen.  Two  chiefs  of  each 
of  the  Five  Nations  and  two  of  the  Tuscaroras  had  a  special 
conference  with  him  Sep.  14.  They  freely  surrendered  to  him 
the  lands  about  Conestoga  and  renewed  former  treaties.  He  told 
the  other  governors  that  the  Conestogas  spoke  the  same  language 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  269 

as  the  Five  Nations  and  paid  them  tribute.      After  this  they  no 
longer  had  their  old  names  of  Andastes  or  Minquas. 

In  this  treaty  the  Iroquois  addressed  "Brother  Assarigoe,  the 
name  of  the  governors  of  Virginia,  which  signifies  a  Simeter  or 
Cutlas  which  was  given  to  the  Lord  Howard,  anno  1684,  from 
the  dutch  word  Hower,  a  Cutlas."  Hence  and  from  their  cavalry 
the  Virginians  were  termed  Long  Knives.  The  Potomac  was 
called  Kahongoronton  by  the  Iroquois,  and  the  Roanoke  the 
Konentcheneke.  The  five  nations  controlled  by  the  Iroquois  on 
the  Susquehanna  were  the  Tuscaroras,  Conestogas,  Shawnees, 
Oquagas,  who  were  partly  Mohawks,  and  the  Ostanghaes,  who 
were  Delawares.  Some  southern  Indians  afterward  came  to 
New  York. 

This  Albany  council  was  the  first  in  which  the  Tuscaroras 
shared  as  part  of  the  Iroquois  league ;  and  at  the  end,  "  the 
speaker  of  the  Five  Nations,  holding  up  the  coronet,  they  gave 
six  shouts,  five  for  the  Five  Nations,  and  one  for  a  castle  of 
Tuscaroras,  lately  seated  between  Oneida  and  Onondaga." 

The  Conestogas  said  the  Five  Nations,  as  a  body,  had  no  title 
to  the  Susquehanna  lands,  and  that  four  of  them  claimed  none, 
but  that  the  Cayugas  made  a  continual  claim,  and  the  matter 
should  be  settled.  Some  Cayugas  went  to  Pennsylvania  in  1723 
to  hold  a  council  on  this  matter,  but  this  had  usually  been  done 
by  the  Onondagas,  "  their  best  gentlemen."  The  Five  Nations 
had  placed  the  Shawnees  on  the  Susquehanna,  and  now  told  them 
they  did  not  well  to  settle  at  Shallyschoking. 

Some  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  and  Schaghticokes  went  to 
Boston  in  1723,  and  were  well  received.  A  piece  of  engraved 
plate  was  given  each  one,  and  £100  were  promised  for  scalps. 

Aug.  29  a  conference  was  held  at  Albany  with  80  Far  Indians 
called  Nicariages,  who  came  there  to  open  trade.  They  spoke 
by  their  chief  Sakena  and  desired  to  be  the  seventh  nation  of  the 
Iroquois,  but  this  never  took  effect.  They  gave  a  calumet,  which 
"  is  esteemed  very  valuable,  and  is  the  greatest  token  of  peace 
and  friendship."  Some  more  came  in  1724,  whom  the  French 
tried  to  turn  aside  on  Lake  Ontario,  but  they  said  they  were  free 
and  would  go  where  they  pleased. 


270  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

The  Canada  Indians  promised  not  to  war  on  Massachusetts, 
and  the  Five  Nations  threatened  to  compel  the  eastern  Indians 
to  be  quiet.  The  English  captured  40  Abenaquis  and  placed 
them  among  the  Iroquois,  and  the  latter  sent  two  of  them,  under 
guard,  to  treat  for  peace.  The  Abenaquis  were  away,  and  the 
messengers  left  suitable  tokens,  but  there  were  misunderstandings 
and  hostilities  increased.  Father  Rasle  was  soon  after  killed, 
and  the  Iroquois  promised  not  to  make  war  on  the  Abenaquis, 
who  greatly  feared  them.  Governor  Vaudreuil  then  sent  Jon- 
caire  to  winter  among  the  Senecas  and  proposed  sending  De 
Longueuil  to  Onondaga.  He  now  forbade  the  connection  of 
trading  posts  with  missions. 

The  Six  Nations  tried  to  make  peace  between  the  Canadian 
Indians  and  New  England,  but  the  former  refused.  On  this  ques- 
tion they  conferred  with  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  at  Albany 
in  September  1724.  At  the  same  time  they  held  a  council  with 
Governor  Burnet.  He  had  kept  a  smith  and  some  young  men  in 
the  Seneca  country  for  two  years  and  heard  they  had  a  good 
house.  He  found  others  willing  to  live  among  the  Onondagas, 
and  would  build  a  house  at  the  mouth  of  their  river.  This  led  to 
a  fuller  examination  of  Wood  creek  and  the  Oneida  carrying 
place. 

Chapter  15 

Fori  at  Oswego.  Trust  deed  of  residence  land.  Shikellimy  viceroy  in 
Pennsylvania.  French  at  Onondaga.  French  fort  at  Crown  Point. 
Pennsylvania  and  the  Six  Nations.  Their  council.  Weiser  and  Shikel- 
limy. Council  at  Stenton.  [roquois  claims.  Their  numbers.  Albany 
council.  French  claims  in  New  York.  War  against  Southern  Indians. 
Joncaires.  Blacksmiths. 

The  lucid  papers  of  Cadwallader  Golden,  in  1724,  helped  the 
founding  of  (  >swego,  a  situation  which  Governor  Burnet  pre- 
ferred to  Oneida  lake.  Dekanissora  was  still  speaker  and  was 
to  advise  with    Burnet  Oil  all   matters  of  importance. 

In  1725  the  Iroquois  of  the  Sanlt  and  of  the  Two  Mountains 
sent  word  to  the  Six  Nations  that,  if  they  allowed  an  English 
fort  at  Oswego,  they  would  make  war  on  them,  but  thought  bet- 
ter of  this.     The  English  started  their  expedition  in  March,  but 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  2jl 

the  post  had  not  been  established  May  9,  the  Senecas  opposing  it. 
De  Longueuil  expected  a  conference  at  the  Bay  of  the  Cayugas. 
He  met  100  Englishmen  at  Oswego  Falls,  who  made  him  show 
his  pass,  on  which  he  told  the  Iroquois  chiefs  they  were  no 
longer  masters  of  their  own  country.  The  Five  Nations  awaited 
him  at  Onondaga,  consenting  to  the  erection  of  a  stone  house  at 
Niagara  and  the  building  of  two  barks  on  Lake  Ontario.  He 
met  more  than  100  canoes  going  to  the  English  to  trade  and  heard 
that  they  had  posts  on  the  Wabash.  The  Onondagas  told  him 
they  had  agreed  to  the  English  going  to  Gaskonchiague',  or 
Oswego  Falls,  6  leagues  from  the  lake.  Some  rules  were  made 
about  trading  there,  but  these  were  soon  transferred  to  Oswego. 

Governor  Burnet  held  another  conference  with  the  Six  Nations 
at  Albany  Sep.  7,  1726.  They  said  the  Senecas  last  year  sent 
them  a  belt,  that,  if  De  Longueuil  wished  to  make  a  settlement 
at  Niagara,  Oswego,  or  elsewhere  on  their  lands,  it  should  be 
refused.  De  Longueuil  said  that  his  bark  house  was  decayed 
and  made  so  many  fair  speeches  that  the  Onondagas  gave  their 
consent,  but  had  repented,  blaming  no  one  but  themselves.  The 
land  belonged  to  the  Senecas.  One  nation  often  acted  in  the 
name  of  the  rest,  but  its  action  was  void  unless  the  others  con- 
sented. The  Six  Nations  had  notified  the  French  that  they  must 
not  build  at  Niagara.  They  now  came  howling  to  Governor 
Burnet  because  of  their  encroachments. 

Sep.  T4  the  Onondagas.  Cayugas  and  Senecas  confirmed  the 
Beaver  Land  deed,  and  also  signed  another  trust  deed  of  their 
residence  lands  on  the  south  side  of  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  60 
miles  inland.  The  Mohawks  and  Oneidas  having  no  land  on 
these,  their  signatures  were  not  required.  The  tract  began  at 
"  a  Creek  called  Canahogne  on  the  Lake  Osweego,  (Erie)  all 
along  the  said  lake  and  all  along  the  narrow  passage  from  the 
said  Lake  to  the  Falls  of  Oniagara  Call'd  Cahaquaraghe  and  all 
along  the  River  of  Oniagara  and  all  along  the  Lake  Cadarack- 
quis  (Ontario)  to  the  Creek  Called  Sodoms  belonging  to  the 
Senekes  and  from  Sodoms  to  the  hill  Called  Tegerhunkserode 


272  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Belonging  to  the  Cayouges,  and  from  Tegerhunckseroda  to  the 
Creek  Called  Cayhunghage  (Salmon  river)  Belonging  to  the 
Onnondages." 

Sadegeenaghtie,  who  signed  the  first  deed,  signed  this  also. 

Governor  Burnet  got  £300  from  New  York  for  building  a  fort 
at  Oswego  and  commenced  it  in  the  spring  of  1727.  Being 
advised  that  the  French  might  interfere,  he  sent  60  soldiers,  there 
being  already  200  traders  there,  besides  workmen.  The  perma- 
nent garrison  would  be  an  officer  and  20  men.  The  stone  walls 
were  4  feet  thick,  and  it  was  finished  in  August.  The  French 
sent  a  summons  to  have  it  destroyed  and  abandoned  within  15 
days,  but  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  two  crowns.  The  regu- 
lations there  about  Indian  trade  were  good  and  strict. 

In  1726  the  Iroquois  made  some  trouble  in  the  south,  and  the 
next  year  there  was  a  conference  at  Philadelphia,  attended  mostly 
by  Cayugas,  who  talked  of  their  Susquehanna  lands  and  offered 
to  sell.  The  Shawnees  and  Delawares  were  told  that  the  Five 
Nations  would  put  petticoats  on  them  and  look  on  them  as 
women.  They  had  been  so  called  years  before,  but  in  a  less 
decided  way. 

In  1728  the  Oneida  chief  Ungquaterughiathe,  or  Swatana, 
better  known  by  his  Delaware  name  of  Shikellimy,  was  sent  to 
Pennsylvania  to  reside  there  as  a  kind  of  viceroy  over  all  the 
Indians  on  the  Susquehanna  in  that  province.  He  was  the  father 
of  the  celebrated  Logan ;  but  having  married  a  Cayuga,  his 
children  were  all  of  that  nation.  In  virtue  of  his  office  he  repre- 
sented the  Iroquois  in  a  Pennsylvania  council  in  1728,  but  took 
no  part.  The  celebrated  Madame  Montour  was  an  interpreter 
at  that  time,  being  then  the  wife,  but  soon  the  widow  of  Robert 
Hunter,  or  Carundowana,  another  Oneida  chief.  Her  first  hus- 
band was  a  Seneca  named  Roland  Montour.  She  was  then  called 
"a  French  woman,  who  had  lived  long  among  these  People." 
and  was  always  represented  as  of  unmixed  blood.  That  year  she 
told  an  alarming  story,  which  came  from  her  sister,  married  and 
living  among  the  Miamis,  that  the  Five  Nations  had  asked  the 
Miamis  to  take  the  hatchet  against  the  English. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW   YORK    IROQUOIS  273 

Governor  Montgomerie  succeeded  Governor  Burnet  Ap.  15, 
1728,  and  had  a  conference  with  the  Iroquois  on  the  rum  ques- 
tion.    It  might  be  sold  but  not  brought  to  their  towns. 

That  year  Chauvignerie  went  on  an  embassy  to  Onondaga, 
then  in  Onondaga  valley.  The  sachems  met  him  on  the  lake 
three  leagues  from  Oswego,  and  told  him  he  must  fire  the  first 
salute  and  lower  his  flag  when  he  passed  the  fort.  He  refused 
and  asked  whose  land  it  was.  The  Onondagas  said  it  belonged 
to  them.  He  landed,  pitched  his  tent,  but  refused  to  enter  the 
fort  or  to  strike  his  flag,  which  he  kept  up  night  and  day  while 
he  stayed.  No  salutes  were  exchanged,  and  he  would  not  allow 
an  Onondaga  to  carry  the  British  flag  over  his  canoe.  Half  a 
league  from  Onondaga  the  chiefs  met  him,  and  he  marched  in 
under  the  French  flag,  placing  it  over  Ononwaragon's  cabin.  He 
employed  chiefs  to  bewail  that  chief's  death,  that  of  his  nephew 
and  of  the  Onondagas  generally. 

To  counteract  the  effect  of  the  Oswego  post,  the  French  voy- 
ageurs  were  ordered  to  take  the  north  shore  of  the  lake,  and  it  was 
desirable  to  have  a  post  at  the  Bay  of  the  Cayugas,  8  or  9  leagues 
west  of  Oswego. 

In  1728  the  Council  at  Philadelphia  thought  "  that  as  the  Five 
Nations  have  an  absolute  Authority  over  all  our  Indians,  and 
may  command  them  as  they  please,  it  is  of  great  importance  to 
Remove  any  Impressions  that  have  been  made  upon  them  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  English,  and  that  by  all  means  'tis  necessary 
they  should  be  spoken  with." 

It  was  noted  that  Shikellimy  had  been  appointed  by  the  Five 
Nations  to  reside  among  the  Shawnees.  At  a  conference  in 
Philadelphia  Oct.  10,  the  old  Delaware  chief,  Sassoonan,  said: 

The  Five  Nations  had  often  told  them  that  they  were  as 
Women  only,  &  desired  them  to  plant  Corn  &  mind  their  own 
private  Business,  for  that  they  would  take  Care  of  what  related 
to  Peace  &  War,  &  that  therefore  they  have  ever  had  good  & 
peaceable  Thoughts  towards  us. 

Tn  1730  Joncaire  told  the  Senecas  that  he  had  been  expelled 
from  the  French  service  and  asked  leave  to  build  a  trading  house 
of  his  own  at  Irondequoit  bay.     Instructions  against  this  were 


274  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

sent  to  Messrs  Wendell,  Hartsen  and  others,  then  in  the  Seneca 
country.  At  the  same  time  the  Fox  Indians  sent  two  red  stone 
axes  to  the  young  Senecas,  which  Joncaire  forwarded  to  Canada, 
saying  they  were  a  request  that  the  Foxes  might  live  with  them. 

In  the  spring  of  the  same  year  Jacob  Brower,  a  trader,  was 
murdered  at  Oswego  Falls.  The  Indians  made  satisfaction  and 
testified  that  he  was  duly  interred. 

In  the  fall  Governor  de  Beauharnois,  hearing  that  the  English 
were  going  to  Lake  Champlain  to  trade,  sent  men  to  drive  them 
off,  but  they  found  no  one  there.  In  173 1  he  proposed  building 
a  fort  at  Crown  Point,  where  the  English  built  and  abandoned 
one  in  1709.  The  English  had  already  placed  farmers  among 
the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas,  and  had  a  good  road  from  the  Mo- 
hawk river  to  Oneida  lake.  It  was  thought  there  would  soon  be 
a  town  at  Oswego. 

Fort  St  Frederick  was  built  at  Crown  Point.  Joncaire  was 
employed  among  the  Senecas,  but  was  sent  to  the  Shawnees  on 
the  Ohio.  About  this  time  Iroquois  parties  were  out  against 
the  Foxes  in  Wisconsin. 

Iroquois  relations  with  Pennsylvania  increased  in  importance, 
and  in  August  Governor  Keith  said  there  was  an  opportunity 
"  of  sending  a  Message  to  the  Six  (formerly  called  the  Five) 
Nations  by  Shekellamy,  who  is  willing  to  undertake  it,  &  is  a 
truly  good  Man  &  a  great  Lover  of  the  English."  A  present 
and  an  invitation  to  visit  Philadelphia  were  sent.  In  December 
he  returned  from  the  Senecas,  to  whom  a  covenant  belt  was 
delivered  at  a  council.  Conrad  Weiser  was  now  official  inter- 
preter for  the  province,  and  gave  warning  that  there  would  be 
trouble  witli  the  Six  Nations  if  the  liquor  trade  were  not  better 
regulated.  He  had  been  adopted  by  the  Mohawks  and  spoke 
their  language. 

Idie  Seneca.  Oneida  and  Cayuga  chiefs  came  to  Philadelphia 
in  August  [732,  and  ordered  tlie  Sliawnecs  to  return  east,  having 
absolute  power  over  them.  They  were  coming  too  much  under 
French  influence  and  refused  to  obey,  killing  some  Iroquois. 
The  offenders  fled,  and  the  Iroquois  were  afterward  pacified  with 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  275 

presents.  They  had  allowed  the  Shawnees  to  come  to  Pennsyl- 
vania about  1691.  The  Six  Nations  had  just  made  an  alliance 
with  the  Miamis  and  three  other  western  nations,  and  had  also 
forbidden  a  French  trading  house  on  the  Ohio.  Joncaire  was 
again  sent  to  the  Senecas,  and  French  medals  would  be  given  to 
the  chiefs.  That  year  Conrad  Weiser  and  Shikellimy  were 
appointed  agents  between  the  Six  Nations  and  Pennsylvania. 

In  1733  David  A.  Schuyler  was  appointed  commissioner  at 
Oswego,  as  understanding  Indian  trade  and  language,  and  Philip 
Schuyler  was  sent  to  the  Senecas,  with  £410  in  presents,  to  secure 
their  friendship.  In  September  there  was  a  conference  between 
Governor  Cosby  and  the  Six  Nations.  A  Cayuga  chief  had  been 
killed  at  Oswego  Falls.  By  the  white  man's  law  the  murderer 
should  die,  but  among  Indians  the  offense  might  be  reconciled 
and  forgiven,  which  they  prayed  might  be  done.  The  Far 
Indians  were  treacherous  and  had  killed  some  Oneidas  while 
feasting  them,  just  after  a  treaty  of  peace.  The  Shawnees  still 
favored  the  French  in  spite  of  Iroquois  advice.  For  the  better 
security  of  the  Mohawks,  the  flats  at  Fort  Hunter  were  conveyed 
to  the  king,  Nov.  4. 

June  18,  Shikellimy  came  to  Philadelphia  to  tell  some  bad 
news,  and  mentioned  Margaret,  a  daughter  of  Madame  Montour. 
He  brought  complaints  and  was  sent  to  investigate  reports. 

In  the  informal  conference  at  Philadelphia,  in  September  1734, 
there  were  13  Oneidas  present  and  seven  Onondagas.  Carundo- 
wana,  husband  of  Madame  Montour,  had  been  killed  by  the 
Catawbas.  A  little  later,  Hetequantagechty  thought  a  false  story 
was  "  owing  to  a  certain  Woman,  whose  old  Age  protects  her 
from  being  punished  for  such  Falsehoods ;  that  in  the  meantime 
they  must  resent  it  and  hope  to  get  rid  of  her."  The  Shawnees 
had  said  they  would  go  still  farther  away,  and  some  of  the  Iro- 
quois chiefs  had  gone  to  speak  with  them.  Five  Onondagas  were 
at  a  conference  in  Philadelphia  that  year.  In  October  Governor 
de  Beauharnois  had  messages  from  the  Onondagas  to  clear  up 
some  matters. 

Several  Iroquois  chiefs  went  to  the  Shawnees  in  1735,  to  per- 


276  NEW     FORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

suade  them  to  return  to  Pennsylvania.  Their  speaker  was  Sago- 
handechty,  a  Seneca  chief  of  high  reputation,  who  spoke  in  a 
way  resented  by  the  Shawnees,  and  he  was  killed  by  them  after 
the  other  deputies  had  returned. 

A  council  with  the  Six  Nations,  held  at  Stenton  near  Phila- 
delphia in  1736,  was  largely  attended,  because  at  this  time  the 
Onondaga  council  had  resolved  to  settle  the  Susquehanna  land 
question.  On  account  of  smallpox  in  Philadelphia,  the  confer- 
ence was  held  at  the  governor's  house  at  Stenton.  There  were 
100  Iroquois  present,  18  being  chiefs.  Pennsylvania  had  pur- 
chased lands  of  the  Delawares;  but  Governor  Dongan  had  a 
deed  of  trust  from  the  Iroquois,  whose  claims  were  allowed,  and 
they  were  paid  accordingly.  When  the  leading  chiefs  were  gone, 
some  drunken  chiefs  deeded  the  lands  on  the  Delaware  to  the 
whites.  Presents  to  the  Iroquois  were  increased  and  those  to 
the  Delawares  diminished,  which  the  latter  did  not  like.  Weiser 
and  Shikellimy  were  now  agents  for  both  Iroquois  and  whites: 

Whose  Bodies,  the  Indians  said  were  to  be  equally  divided 
between  them  &  us,  wre  are  to  have  one-half  &  they  the  other; 
that  they  had  found  Conrad  faithfull  and  honest;  that  he  is  a 
true  good  Man,  &  had  spoke  their  Words  &  our  Words,  and  not 
his  own;  and  the  Indians  having  presented  him  with  a  drest 
Skin  to  make  him  Shoes,  and  two  deer  Skins  to  keep  him  warm, 
they  said  as  they  had  thus  taken  Care  of  our  friend,  they  must 
recommend  theirs  (Shekallamy)  to  our  notice. 

The  [roquois  now  claimed  lands  in  Virginia  and  Maryland, 
and  Pennsylvania  supported  them.  The  Shawnees  were  dis- 
satisfied with  the  land  sales  of  this  year,  turned  to  the  French, 
and  refused  to  come  back  to  the  Susquehanna,  where  they  had 
asked  permission  to  live  45  years  before. 

The  fur  trade  at  Niagara  and  Frontenac  had  greatly  dimin- 
ished because  the  French  were  hot  allowed  to  sell  brandy.  Some 
voyageurs  were  seized  and  lined  by  them  thai  year  for  taking 
furs  toward  (  >SwegO  for  better  prices.      They  did  as  they  pleased. 

An  interesting  report  was  made  in  [736  on  the  New  York  and 
Canadian  Iroquois,  as  well  as  other  nations.  It  is  attributed  to 
loneaire,  bnt  more  reasonably  to  Chauvignerie,  and  its  moderate 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  277 

estimates  are  in  marked  contrast  with  the  larger  ones  of  others. 
At  Montreal  he  distinguished  between  the  Iroquois  and  others 
there.  Of  the  former  there  were  366  warriors,  and  at  Toniata 
there  were  10  more.  In  Xew  York  the  Onondagas  had  200  war- 
riors, the  Mohawks  80,  the  Oneidas  100,  the  Cayugas  120,  the 
Senecas  350,  and  the  Tuscaroras  250.  There  were  a  few  Iro- 
quois at  Niagara,  and  he  did  not  report  those  in  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio. 

There  was  continual  trouble  between  the  Iroquois  and  the 
southern  and  western  Indians,  and  YYeiser  and  Shikellimy  were 
sent  to  Onondaga  about  this  in  February  1737,  arriving  there  in 
April.  Weiser  nearly  perished  on  the  way.  The  governor  of  Vir- 
ginia wanted  the  Iroquois  chiefs  to  come  to  Williamsburg  and 
there  treat  of  peace  with  the  Catawbas  and  Cherokees,  but  they 
refused,  vet  agreed  to  a  year's  truce.  Weiser  returned  in  the 
spring.  Parties  were  out,  ignorant  of  the  truce,  and  the  Iro- 
quois killed  three  Catawba  hunters  and  some  horses.  Since 
April  eight  others  had  been  killed,  and  the  Catawbas  said  these 
ought  to  be  avenged  before  peace  was  made.  The  Cherokees 
had  met  an  Iroquois  party  and  sent  peace  deputies.  The  Iro- 
quois were  advised  to  make  peace  with  both. 

Lieutenant  Governor  Clarke  had  a  conference  at  Albany  with 
the  Six  Nations  in  June  1737.  After  condoling  some  deaths, 
according  to  custom,  they  said  Clarke  spoke  roughly  to  them 
and  they  would  answer  in  the  same  way.  He  had  reproved 
them  for  letting  the  French  come  to  Irondequoit;  how  came  they 
at  Crown  Point,  which  was  English  land?  The  English  had 
heard  that  the  Senecas  and  Cayugas  had  sold  their  Susquehanna 
lands,  on  which  the  Shawnees  lived,  and  they  might  go  to  De- 
troit, which  the  English  did  not  like.  They  replied  that  they 
had  sold  but  a  small  piece,  a  great  way  from  the  Shawnees.  The 
trouble  was  between  them  and  Pennsylvania,  but  they  would 
try  to  prevent  their  removal. 

On  the  general  question  of  Susquehanna  lands,  Canassatego 
had  once  said  that  the  Susquehannas  had  a  right  to  sell  their 
lands  till  they  were  conquered  in  1677.     Their  title  then  ceased. 


278  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

At  this  council  the  chiefs  said  the  New  York  colony  was  like  a 
great  ship  moored  to  an  elmtree.  Because  the  tree  was  perish- 
able, the  anchor  was  carried  behind  the  great  hill  at  Onondaga, 
where  they  would  always  care  for  it.  This  figure  was  often 
used.  They  refused  to  sell  land  south  of  Lake  Ontario,  for, 
wherever  the  whites  settled,  the  deer  and  beaver  disappeared. 
Irondequoit  was  in  the  Seneca  country,  and  they  could  not  sell 
other  men's  lands. 

In  1738  Clarke  had  prevented  the  establishment  of  a  French 
post,  and  had  sent  an  interpreter,  a  smith  and  three  others  to 
live  with  the  Senecas.  In  the  south  the  Iroquois  had  attacked 
the  Catawbas  east  of  the  mountains. 

In  1739  Indians  brought  word  that  30  boats,  with  120  French- 
men, were  going  from  Crown  Point  to  Wood  creek  to  form  a 
settlement  there.  They  now  claimed  all  land  to  the  sources  of 
streams  tributary  to  the  St  Lawrence,  but  would  give  a  deed  of 
gift  to  the  Mohawks  of  the  land  from  Crown  Point  to  the  portage 
as  a  hunting  ground.     The  claim  was  that  of  conquest. 

In  July  a  party  of  French  and  Indians  went  to  attack  the 
Cherokees  and  others  in  Carolina  and  Georgia.  The  Iroquois 
chiefs  were  unable  to  keep  some  young  Mohawks  from  joining 
them,  and  others  favored  these  parties.  The  French  Indians 
often  passed  through  New  York  on  these  southern  forays,  mark- 
ing their  camps  with  pictures  and  crosses.  The  Iroquois  said 
they  would  not  make  peace  with  the  Catawbas  and  Cherokees 
till  they  asked  for  it. 

Lieutenant  Governor  Clarke  held  a  council  with  the  Six  Nations 
Aii»-.  16,  1740,  smallpox  having  prevented  the  annual  council 
the  year  before.  He  admitted  all  nations  under  English  pro- 
tection into  the  covenant  chain,  both  southward  and  westward 
as  far  as  the  Mississippi,  and  had  heard  of  an  Onondaga  embassy 
to  the  French  the  last  summer.  They  said  they  had  been  there 
for  the  advantage  of  all.  The  belt  given  to  bind  them  to  the 
southern  Indians  was  accepted  and  would  be  kept  at  Onon- 
daga. The  hatchet  against  Spain  was  refused,  as  they  were  not  a 
people  to  cross  the  sea,  and  the  Flatheads  must  ask  for  peace. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  279 

They  also  addressed  the  French  in  September,  saying  they 
did  not  know  why  their  people  were  then  at  Albany.  They 
mourned  Joncaire's  death,  replanting  the  tree  of  peace  and  asking 
the  return  of  his  son.  The  older  Joncaire  told  Charlevoix  of  the 
oil  springs  in  1721,  and  both  of  his  sons  became  influential  with 
the  Indians.  They  also  wanted  the  blacksmith  back  again,  hav- 
ing retained  the  whole  forge  for  him.  Laforge  was  invited  and 
permitted  to  spend  a  year  with  his  friends  at  Onondaga.  That 
year  the  famous  Abbe  Franqois  Picquet  built  a  strong  fort  at 
the  Mission  of  the  Two  [Mountains. 

The  Senecas  sent  a  message  in  August  1741  to  Governor  de 
Beauharnois,  whom  they  called  Skenon,  or  Peace,  saying  they 
were  famished,  but  wanted  the  blacksmith  back,  should  any  of 
them  remain  alive.  Laforge,  the  blacksmith,  could  not  come  till 
the  next  year.  .His  wife  was  reared  among  the  Onondagas,  and 
they  wanted  her  there.  In  fact,  the  French  smith  left  the  Sen- 
ecas because  they  gave  all  their  work  to  the  English  smith,  and 
he  feared  dying  of  hunger,  not  earning  enough  to  buy  an  ear  of 
corn.  The  New  York  Iroquois  wished  simply  to  trade  at  the 
best  markets  and  that  no  coercion  should  be  used  either  at 
Niagara  or  Oswego.  At  this  time  Beauharnois  raised  or  installed 
some  Canadian  Iroquois  chiefs. 

Chapter  16 

Land  bought  at  Irondequoit.  Six  Nations.  Catawbas  and  Cherokees  at 
peace.  Canassatego  and  the  Delawares.  Zinzendorf.  Bartram's  jour- 
ney. Lancaster  council.  Black  Prince.  Name  for  Maryland.  Cataw- 
bas. Moravians  at  Onondaga.  Six  Nations  dissatisfied.  Scalp  bounties. 
Colonel  Johnson.  Oquaga  Indians.  Mississagas.  Young  Indians 
desire  war.   Johnson  at  Onondaga.   Treaties  at  Lancaster  and  Logstown. 

Notwithstanding  French  opposition,  Clarke  got  a  deed  of  the 
land  at  Irondequoit  from  the  Seneca  chiefs  by  means  of  those 
sent  as  usual  to  live  in  their  country.  They  were  ordered  to  go 
around  the  land  with  the  chiefs  and  mark  the  trees,  that  it  might 
be  known  what  was  English  land,  the  tract  being  30  miles  square. 
The  deed  was  signed  by  three  Seneca  sachems,  the  consideration 
being  £100  and  "  sundry  good  causes." 


280  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

He  persuaded  the  Assembly  to  fortify  Oswego  and  to  give  £100 
to  feed  the  Indians,  who  were  in  great  want  from  the  length 
and  severity  of  the  winter.  He  also  effected  a  treaty  of  peace 
between  the  Six  Nations  and  the  Caughnawagas,  or  Praying 
Indians,  at  Montreal. 

The  Cherokees  and  Catawbas  of  Carolina  gladly  accepted  the 
peace  offered  by  the  Six  Nations.  The  former  sent  them  some 
beads,  a  pipe,  an  eagle's  tail,  and  a  white  flag  they  had  taken 
from  the  French.  The  Catawbas  sent  a  belt  of  wampum  and 
calumet,  with  some  tobacco,  as  tokens  of  acceptance.  The  Iro- 
quois belt  would  be  kept  in  one  of  the  Cherokee  towns.  The 
Creeks  also  desired  a  treaty  of  peace.  Some  Cayugas  came  to 
Philadelphia  about  payment  for  lands,  but  no  council  was  held, 
as  no  others  came. 

Clarke  held  a  council  with  the  Six  Nations  in  June  1742.  He 
was  sorry  they  had  forgotten  their  old  way  of  living  in  castles, 
but  some  had  promised  to  rebuild  them  and  be  no  longer  scat- 
tered. A  Cherokee  deputy  had  been  to  the  Senecas,  and  the  way 
was  now  clear.  The  nations  to  be  included  in  the  southern  cove- 
nant were  the  Catawbas,  Cherokees,  Creeks,  Chickasaws  and 
Choctaws.  He  did  not  think  a  settlement  at  Irondequoit  expedi- 
ent yet,  as  people  feared  a  French  war. 

The  Onondagas  and  Senecas  went  to  see  Governor  de  Beau- 
harnois  in  July  1742,  and  Onowaragon,  a  great  Onondaga  sachem, 
spoke.  The  Senecas  also  asked  that  Laforge's  son  might  be  their 
smith  and  forbidden  to  be  rude.  Privately  they  said  the  Onon- 
dagas, on  their  way  home,  took  down  the  French  flag  when  they 
came  near  Oswego  and  raised  the  English.  The  Senecas  had 
minds  of  their  own.  carrying  the  French  Hag  in  spite  of  the  Eng- 
lish, but  used  it  so  much  thai  it  was  worn  out,  and  they  wanted 
another. 

Beauharnois  said  that  young  Joncaire  might  still  live  with  the 
Senecas  and  young  Laforge  might  be  their  smith.  They  had 
done  well  with  the  Hag  and  lie  would  have  reproved  the  Onon- 
dagas had  he  known  this  sooner. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  28 1 

The  Senecas  still  sent  parties  against  the  Catawbas  or  Flat- 
heads.  ,  The  Shawnees  proposed  moving  to  the  prairie  of  the 
Maskoutins,  but  this  Avas  the  wish  of  the  French,  and  the  Iro- 
quois must  not  be  displeased.  An  exaggerated  account  of  a 
collision  between  the  latter  and  the  Virginians  reached  Beau- 
harnois,  and  he  tried  to  cause  a  rupture  by  means  of  this.  The 
Onondagas  did  not  respond  or  accept  his  presents,  and  his 
attempt  failed.  In  this  skirmish  some  were  killed,  and  there 
were  long  deliberations  on  it. 

There  was  a  great  council  in  Philadelphia  that  year ;  and, 
while  the  Iroquois  were  hospitably  received,  the  Delawares  were 
notified  that  they  might  attend,  but  at  their  own  expense.  The 
Onondaga  Canassatego  was  speaker  and  spoke  thus  of  Weiser,  or 
Tarachawagon : 

When  we  adopted  him  we  divided  him  into  two  equal  Parts; 
one  we  kept  for  ourselves,  and  one  we  left  for  You.  He  has  had 
a  great  Deal  of  Trouble  with  Us,  wore  out  his  Shoes  in  our  Mes- 
sages, and  dirty'd  his  Clothes  by  living  amongst  Us,  so  that  he 
is  as  nasty  as  an  Indian. 

They  gave  him  a  present  with  which  to  buy  new  clothes  and 
asked  the  governor  to  be  equally  generous.  The  Senecas  did  not 
come  to  this  council  because  of  the  famine  among  them.  One 
man,  it  was  said,  had  killed  and  eaten  his  own  children.  They 
thought  the  goods  received  for  the  lands  insufficient.  Canas- 
satego said : 

We  therefore  desire,  if  you  have  the  Keys  of  the  Proprietor's 
Chest,  you  will  open  it,  and  take  out  a  little  more  for  us.  We 
know  our  Lands  are  now  become  more  valuable;  the  white 
People  think  we  don't  know  their  Value,  but  we  are  sensible 
that  Land  is  Everlasting,  and  the  few  Goods  we  receive  for  it 
are  soon  Worn  out  and  Gone. 

The  chief  had  examined  the  Delaware  deeds,  given  50  years 
before,  and  said  the  Delawares  ought  to  be  taken  by  the  head 
and  shaken  severely.  Onas  was  right,  and  he  said  to  them: 
"  How  came  you  to  take  upon  you  to  sell  land  at  all?  We  con- 
quer'd  You,  we  made  Women  of  you,  you  know  you  are  Women, 
and  can  no  more  sell  Land  than  Women."     After  other  reproofs 


282  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

he  passed  sentence.  They  might  live  either  at  Shamokin  or 
Wyoming,  "  and  then  we  shall  have  you  more  under  our  Eye, 
and  shall  see  how  You  behave.  Don't  deliberate,  but  remove 
away,  and  take  this  Belt  of  Wampum."  He  summed  up  as  fol- 
lows and  dismissed  them : 

This  String  of  Wampum  serves  to  forbid  You,  Your  Children 
and  Grand  Children,  to  the  latest  Posterity,  from  ever  meddling 
in  Land  Affairs,  neither  you  nor  any  who  shall  descend  from  You, 
are  ever  hereafter  to  presume  to  sell  any  Land,  for  which  Purpose 
you  are  to  Preserve  this  string  in  Memory  of  what  your  Uncles 
have  this  Day  given  You  in  Charge.  We  have  some  other  Busi- 
ness to  transact  with  our  Brethren,  and  therefore  depart  the  Coun- 
cil and  consider  what  has  been  said  to  you. 

The  Delawares  left  the  council  as  ordered,  and  it  soon  con- 
cluded. Weiser  conducted  the  large  Iroquois  delegation  to  his 
house  in  Tulpehocken,  where  Count  Zinzendorf  had  an  inter- 
esting meeting  with  the  chiefs.  He  was  much  impressed  by 
them  and  received  a  string  of  wampum  inviting  him  to  Onondaga. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  negotiation  about  the  encounter  in 
Virginia,  but  at  last  all  was  ready  for  a  final  settlement.  Shi- 
kellimy  and  Saghsidowa  were  sent  to  Onondaga  in  April  1743 
and  were  told  that  a  way  there  had  been  cleared  for  the  former 
and  Weiser.  One  of  those  killed  was  a  cousin  of  Shikellimy  and 
he  was  condoled.  The  Six  Nations  sent  a  message  about  the 
Juniata  lands,  but  none  to  the  governor  of  Virginia,  because  he 
had  not  washed  off  the  blood  and  taken  the  hatchet  out  of  their 
head.  If  he  would  do  this,  they  would  talk  to  him.  He  readily 
consented  if  Weiser  would  do  what  was  necessary.  The  deputies 
set  out  in  company  with  John  Bartram,  the  naturalist,  and  Lewis 
Evans,  the  geographer,  reaching  Onondaga  July  21.  Both  Bar- 
tram  and  Weiser  wrote  full  accounts,  according  to  their  per 
sonal  tastes,  and  Evans  made  a  map  of  the  route.  The  trip  was 
highly  satisfactory,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  another 
council  at  Lancaster  Pa.  Tochannntie,  or  the  Black  Prince, 
and    Canassatego   were   prominent    in   these   affairs. 

That  year  it  was  reported  from  I  Detroit  that  600  Senecas,  Onon- 
dagas  and  other  Iroquois  had  settled  at  the  mouth  of  White 
river  and  were  friendly  to  the  French. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  283 

War  was  declared  in  1744,  and  Virginia  and  Maryland  were 
therefore  very  conciliatory,  so  that  the  Lancaster  council  was  a 
great  occasion.  Witham  Marshe  gave  a  full  and  picturesque 
account.  The  Iroquois  party  numbered  252,  Canassatego  march- 
ing at  the  head. 

They  placed  their  cabins  according  to  the  rank  each  nation 
of  them  holds  in  their  grand  council.  The  Onondagoes  nation 
was  placed  on  the  right  hand  and  upper  end,  then  the  others 
according  to  their  several  dignities. 

Madame  Montour  was  there,  and  Marshe  gave  good  descrip- 
tions of  Canassatego  and  the  Black  Prince: 

Canassatego  was  a  tall,  well-made  man ;  had  a  very  full  chest, 
and  brawny  limbs.  He  had  a  manly  countenance,  mixt  with  a 
good-natured  smile.  He  was  about  60  years  of  age  ;  very  active, 
strong,  and  had  a  surprising  liveliness  in  his  speech,  which  I 
observed  in  the  discourse  between  him,  Mr  Weiser  and  some  of 
the  sachems.  Tachanuntie,  another  sachem,  a  chief  of  the  same 
nation,  was  a  tall,  thin  man ;  old,  and  not  so  well  featured  as 
Canassatego.  I  believe  he  may  be  near  the  same  age  with  him. 
He  is  one  of  the  greatest  warriors  that  ever  the  Five  Nations 
produced,  and  has  been  a  great  war-captain  for  many  years  past. 
He  is  also  called  the  Black  Prince. 

By  invitation  of  the  Maryland  commissioner,  24  chiefs  dined 
with  the  principal  white  men  present,  occupying  two  tables  out 
of  five.  "  They  fed  lustily,  drank  heartily,  and  were  very  greasy 
before  they  finished  their  dinner,  for,  by  the  bye,  they  made  no 
use  of  their  forks." 

The  Cayuga  chief,  Gachradodon,  gave  a  new  name  to  Mary- 
land, which  was  Tocaryhogon,  Occupying  the  Middle  or  Honor- 
able Place.  Pie  was  praised  by  the  governor,  who  said  he  would 
have  made  a  good  figure  in  the  forum  of  ancient  Rome,  and  a 
commissioner  declared  he  never  had  seen  so  just  an  action  in  the 
great  orators  he  had  heard.  Notwithstanding  the  good  cheer, 
when  it  came  to  signing  the  treaty,  they  "  were  obliged  to  put 
about  the  glass  pretty  briskly,"  nor  did  all  sign  at  once.  Their 
right  to  the  Virginia  lands  being  challenged,  Tochanuntic 
answered : 

We  have  the  Right  of  Conquest — a  Right  too  dearly  Purchas'd, 
and  which  cost  us  too  much  Blood  to  give  up  without  any  Reason 


284  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

at  all.  .  .  All  the  World  Knows  we  conquered  the  Several 
Nations  living  on  Sasquehannah,  Cohongoronton  and  on  the 
Back  of  the  Great  Mountains  in  Virginia.  The  Conoy-uch-such- 
roona,  Coch-nan-was-roona,  Tokoa-irough-roona,  and  Con-nut- 
skirrough-roonaw,  feel  the  effects  of  Our  Conquests,  being  now 
a  Part  of  out  Nations,  and  their  Lands  at  our  Disposal. 

Neither  Maryland  nor  Virginia  admitted  their  rights,  but  both 
satisfied  them,  and  presents  and  deeds  were  exchanged.  The 
shrewd  Iroquois  went  home  feeling  their  power.  There  were 
strong  French  and  English  parties  among  them ;  and,  if  they 
could  remain  neutral,  both  French  and  English  would  pay  well 
for  it.  A  projected  treaty  with  the  Catawbas  was  placed  in 
Weiser's  hands,  and  it  was  recommended  that  he  should  go  to 
Onondaga. 

In  1744  Governor  de  Beauharnois  heard  that  the  English  were 
about  to  settle  on  Wood  creek,  and  that  they  had  sent  an  alarm 
to  the  Iroquois.  Four  villages  of  the  Canadian  Mahicans,  or 
Loups,  had  gone  to  the  Senecas,  and  Joncaire  would  report  what 
it  meant.  He  was  called  Nitachinon,  and  much  was  expected 
from  his  influence.  The  Iroquois  warned  him  to  pass  Oswego 
only  at  night,  for  the  English  had  orders  to  take  him,  dead  or 
alive. 

Governor  Clinton  had  an  Indian  council,  June  18,  1744.  War 
had  been  declared,  and  troops  and  cannon  sent  to  Oswego.  The 
Iroquois  would  be  ready,  but  would  not  strike  the  first  blow  or 
seize  the  French  among  them.     They  thought  this  wrong. 

Jan.  2,  1745,  Weiser's  son  said  he  had  been  to  Virginia  and 
met  some  Iroquois  coming  from  the  Catawba  war.  "  One  of 
Shickelmy's  Sons,  to  wit,  Unhappy  Jake,  had  been  killed  by  the 
Catawbas,  with  five  more  of  the  Six  Nations."  The  chief  was 
condoled,  and  Weiser  was  willing  to  go  to  Onondaga  about  this, 
but  doubted  Catawba  sincerity.     He  said: 

The  Catawbaws  are  known  to  be  a  very  Broud  people,  and 
have  at  several  treatys  they  had  with  the  Cherokees  used  high 
Expressions,  and  thought  themself  stout  warriors  for  having 
deceived  Garontowano  (the  Captain  of  the  Company  that  was 
so  treacherously  killed)     ...     If  that  one  article  is  true  with 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  285 

them,  that  they  will  own  they  treacherously  murdered  Garonto- 
wano  and  some  of  his  men,  a  peace  no  doubt  will  be  made 
between  these  poor  wretches. 

A  peculiar  party  went  to  Onondaga  in  May  1745.  On  behalf 
of  Pennsylvania  went  Conrad  Weiser,  Andrew  Montour  the  half- 
breed,  and  Shikellimy  and  his  son.  Three  Moravians  also  went: 
Spangenberg,  Zeisberger  and  Schebosch.  These  desired  to 
arrange  for  settling  some  Indians  on  the  Susquehanna.  They 
were  on  horseback,  and  the  route  was  essentially  that  of  Bar- 
tram  in  1743;  up  the  Susquehanna  to  Owego,  and  then  across 
Tioga,  Tompkins  and  Cortland  counties  to  Onondaga,  leaving 
Weiser's  May  19  and  reaching  Onondaga  June  6.  The  Six 
Nations  were  invited  to  a  council  at  Williamsburg  Va.,  but  said 
it  was  too  far.  They  wrould  go  to  Philadelphia  about  the 
Catawba  peace.  Both  embassies  were  successful,  but  in  neither 
account  is  there  any  allusion  to  the  business  of  the  other.  From 
this  first  Moravian  visit  came  others,  but  no  direct  missionary 
work  was  done.  The  sole  efforts  were  preparatory,  in  learning 
the  language  and  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  Iroquois.  Not  a 
sermon  was  preached,  not  a  public  service  held. 

Early  in  1745  the  French  made  the  Six  Nations  believe  that 
the  English  meant  to  destroy  them,  and  the  Mohawks  and 
Senecas  combined,  but  were  undeceived  before  the  English  quite 
lost  their  friendship.  Indian  enthusiasm  waned.  Governor 
Clinton  held  a  council  Oct.  5,  and  found  that  Joncaire  had  started 
the  evil  reports.  Hendrick  made  a  tiresome  speech  and  there 
were  land  troubles  again.  Governor  Clinton  asked  them  to  take 
up  arms  for  the  English,  by  a  large  belt,  and  they  said  they  would 
if  the  French  did  not  make  satisfaction  in  two  months. 

The  Indians  were  tempted  by  an  offer  of  £10  for  male  scalps, 
but  did  not  give  way,  and  the  historian,  William  Smith,  said  of 
the  Albany  council : 

Although  this  conference  was  held  in  a  style  of  dignity  and 
solemnity  which  has  seldom  if  ever  before  been  witnessed; 
although  men  of  the  first  talents  and  respectability,  from  four 
different  colonies,  had  united  their  influence  and  exerted  their 


286  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

eloquence  in  persuading  these  savages  to  take  part  in  the  war,  yet 
the  characteristic  cunning  of  that  people  was  proof  against  all 
these  arts. 

Three  white  men  wintered  at  Onondaga  about  this  time,  and 
a  fatal  epidemic  troubled  the  Senecas.  The  Abbe  Picquet  and 
his  warriors  were  at  the  attack  on  Fort  Saratoga,  which  was 
destroyed   in   November. 

Governor  de  Beauharnois  held  a  council  with  the  Iroquois  in 
July  and  was  told  that  they  carried  the  French  flag  past 
Oswego  on  their  return  and  would  remain  neutral.  It  was  hard 
for  all  to  do  this,  with  their  opportunities,  for  the  regular  offer 
was  £10  for  scalps  of  males  over  16  years  old,  £5  for  those  under 
that,  and  double  these  rates  for  prisoners.  So  some  went  to  war, 
and  the  Mississagas  joined  the  Six  Nations  in  this. 

During  the  war,  in  1746,  the  French  Indians  often  came  near 
and  even  into  Albany.  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut  refused 
to  help  procure  Iroquois  aid.  All  was  gloomy,  but  a  new  light 
appeared.  William  Johnson  had  been  made  colonel  of  the  Mo- 
hawks and  made  himself  felt.     Colden  said  of  him : 

Air  William  Johnson  was  indefatigable  among  the  Mohawks ; 
he  dressed  himself  after  the  Indian  Manner,  and  made  frequent 
Dances,  according  to  their  Custom  when  they  excite  to  War, 
and  used  all  the  Means  he  could  think  of,  at  a  considerable 
Expence.  .  .  in  order  to  engage  them  heartily  in  the  War 
against  Canada. 

Some  of  the  chiefs  would  not  join,  as  the  war  was  not  in  their 
interests,  and  the  other  nations  agreed  with  them.  The  young 
Mohawks  favored  war.  Governor  Clinton  called  a  council  in 
August,  and  the  difference  of  opinion  was  curiously  marked. 
Colden   said : 

These  Disputes,  however,  continued  so  far,  that  the  Mohawks, 
and  the  other  Five  Nations,  could  not  go  in  Company  to  Albany; 
the  Mohawks  marched  on  one  side  of  the  River,  while  the  other 
Nations  went  on  the  other  side.  [There  are  two  Roads  from  the 
Mohawks  Castle  to  Scheneet ada.  one  011  each  side  of  the  Mohawk 
River.]  When  the  Indians  came  near  the  Town  of  Albany,  on 
the  Slh  of  August .  Mr  Johnson  put  himself  at  the  Head  of  the 
Mohawks,  dressed  and  painted  after  the  Manner  of  an  Indian 
War-Captain ;  and  the  Indians  who  followed  him,  were  likewise 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  287 

dressed  and  painted,  as  is  usual  with  them  when  they  set  out  in 
War.  The  Indians  saluted  the  Governor  as  they  passed  the  Fort, 
by  a  running  fire ;  which  his  Excellency  ordered  to  be  answered 
by  a  Discharge  of  some  Cannon  from  the  Fort. 

Through  Johnson's  influence  the  Mississagas  and  Six  Nations 

threw  down  the  war  belt  and  declared  war  against  the  French 

at  this  council,  in  which  Massachusetts  united  with  New  York. 

Colden   presided.     The   official   interpreter   was   ill,   and   it  was 

thought  best  to  have  a  chief  give  the  address  to  the  Indians. 

In  the  choice  a  modern  division  appears : 

At  first  a  Mohawk  Sachem  was  pitched  upon ;  but  the  Sachems 
themselves  told  us,  That  for  some  time  past  a  kind  of  Party- 
Division  among  the  Six  Nations  had  subsisted :  That  the  Mo- 
hawks, Onondages,  and  Senekas  form'd  one  Party ;  and  the 
Oneydoes,  Tuscaroras,  and  Cayugas,  the  other :  That,  as  the 
Mohawks  might  be  suspected  to  be  more  partial  to  the  English, 
it  would  be  of  more  Use  to  employ  one  of  the  other  Party ;  and 
an  Oneydo  Sachem  was  proposed  for  that  Purpose. 

Colden,  who  made  the  above  note,  saw  the  war  dance  at  this 
time,  and  thus  described  it : 

They  were  painted  as  when  they  go  to  War.  The  Dance  is  a 
slow  and  solemn  Motion,  accompanied  with  a  pathetick  Song. 
The  Indians  in  their  Turns  perform  this  singly,  but  it  is  not  easy 
to  describe  the  Particularities  of  it. 

Sep.  26  the  Oquaga  Indians  marched  in  in  single  file,  firing  as 
they  passed  the  fort  and  receiving  a  salute  from  the  cannon. 
They  said  they  would  go  to  the  war,  but  were  late  in  getting  the 
summons.  It  was  reported  that  Weiser  would  bring  some  from 
the  Susquehanna,  but  no  others  came.  At  this  time  the  Missis- 
sagas  were  called  a  seventh  nation,  living  north  of  Lake  Erie, 
but  nothing  came  of  this. 

Smallpox  was  quite  fatal,  and  this  stopped  some  of  Johnson's 
parties : 

While  he  was  pressing  them  to  this  Purpose,  one  of  the 
Sachems  who  had  promised  to' head  a  Party  from  the  Canajohary 
Castle,  said,  You  seem  to  think  that  we  are  Brutes,  that  we  have 
no  Sense  of  the  Loss  of  our  dearest  Relations,  and  some  of  them 
the  bravest  Men  we  had  in  our  Nation  :  You  must  allow  us  Time 
to  bewail  our  Misfortune. 


288  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Many  of  the  Canadian  Iroquois  went  against  the  English,  and 
the  governor  held  a  council  with  34  New  York  Iroquois  June 
30>  1746. 

In  1747  an  Indian  party  under  Walter  Butler,  killed  some 
French  near  Crown  Point,  but  had  time  to  take  only  six  of  their 
scalps.  Other  parties,  in  Canada  and  elsewhere,  brought  in 
scalps  and  prisoners.  The  Six  Nations  promised  Johnson  to 
get  out  all  the  men  they  could  against  the  French.  Besides  two 
bands  containing  119  men,  he  had  seven  other  parties  out.  He 
desired  a  law  against  selling  liquor  to  the  Mohawks,  and  spoke 
of  two  "  grand  villains  "  who  were  nuisances  in  this  way. 

Governor  Clinton  talked  with  some  Mohawks  in  July.  They 
had  been  scouting  and  wished  their  brethren  fortified  at  Cana- 
joharie.  He  gave  Johnson  orders  for  this.  The  latter  had  a 
talk  with  some  Oquaga  Indians  and  hoped  to  stop  the  war  with 
the  Flatheads.  The  Tionontaties  and  Ottawas  were  ready  to 
fight  against  the  French,  and  the  Six  Nations  thought  they 
could  destroy  Canada  alone  if  Crown  Point  were  out  of  the  way. 
He  could  get  nothing  to  Oswego  by  the  river,  as  scalping  had 
commenced  there.  If  he  had  supplies,  he  could  bring  1000  Indians 
into  the  field  in  six  weeks.  The  great  Cayuga  chief,  Ottrawana, 
had  informed  him  by  private  belts  that  the  western  Indians 
wished  to  destroy  Niagara,  and  they  asked  leave  of  the  Six 
Nations.  He  sent  Lieutenant  Visgher  to  Oswego  with  goods, 
but  it  was  dangerous  work,  a  strong  guard  being  needed.  Some 
Senecas  and  Flatheads  were  coming  with  a  very  large  belt,  which 
must  mean  a  great  deal  of  news.  Aug.  19  he  heard  that  500  of 
the  French  had  advanced  from  Crown  Point  to  Lake  George, 
where  they  encamped  on  an  island  and  sent  out  parties.  He 
proposed  going  against  them  with  300  Indians  and  as  many 
more  colonists..  Others  joined  him  on  the  way,  but  no  state- 
ment was  made  of  the  result.  He  wanted  plenty  of  money  to 
pay  for  scalps,  as  ready  pay  was  expected.  He  had  also  secured 
the  friendship  of  a  principal  Seneca  chief  and  gained  that  nation 
for  the  English. 

De  Chauvignerie  was  sent  to  Onondaga  from  Quebec  to  con- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  289 

dole  those  who  had  died  from  smallpox.  He  wished  to  make 
peace  and  gave  a  belt  6  inches  broad  and  7  feet  long.  They  told 
him  they  had  taken  up  the  English  hatchet  against  the  French, 
and  he  went  off.  There  was  an  invasion  of  the  island  of  Mon- 
treal in  June,  by  a  canoe  party  of  English,  Mohawks  and  Sen- 
ecas.  Hendrick,  here  called  Theianoguen,  or  White  Head,  led 
the  party,  of  whom  16  were  captured.  It  was  reassuring  to  the 
French  to  know  that  the  Indians  of  the  Sault  went  against  the 
enemy.  The  Mohawks  killed  many  of  the  French,  and  opinions 
were  divided  on  the  neutrality  of  the  rest.  July  23  a  party  of  61 
Iroquois  deputies  came  to  Quebec  and  were  there  till  Sep.  24. 
They  were  kindly  received,  but  did  nothing.  Some  Senecas 
expected  did  not  come. 

Shikellimy  reported  a  council  at  Onondaga  that  year,  whence 
messengers  were  to  be  sent  to  Albany  and  Canada.  Weiser 
met  11  Onondagas  in  Pennsylvania,  returning  from  the  Catawba 
war.  There  had  been  14  Cayugas  with  them,  of  whom  five  were 
killed.  Weiser  found  Shikellimy  and  his  family  sick  and  some 
had  died.  He  gave  them  medicine  with  good  results,  but  the 
chief  was  in  a  pitiable  state,  and  Weiser  asked  aid  for  him  because 
of  past  services.    This  was  given  and  he  recovered. 

Some  Iroquois  warriors  came  to  Philadelphia  from  Ohio. 
The  old  chiefs  wanted  peace  and  the  young  men  war.  They 
needed  arms  for  this  and  wondered  that  the  English  showed  so 
little  energy. 

At  last  the  Young  Indians,  the  Warriors  &  Captains  consulted 
together  &  resolved  to  take  up  the  English  Hatchet  against  the 
will  of  the  old  People,  and  to  lay  their  old  People  aside  as  of  no 
use  but  in  time  of  Peace. 

In  March  1748  some  Mohawks  were  killed  near  Johnson's 
house,  and  they  were  angry,  saying  that  the  English  got  them 
into  a  war  and  then  did  not  help  them,  Shirley's  expedition 
being  given  up. 

Governor  Clinton  had  a  conference  with  the  Iroquois  and  their 
allies  in  July.  He  wished  them  to  keep  their  young  men  from 
the  Catawba  war.     Colonel  Johnson  had  been  to  Onondaga,  and 


29O  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

an  exchange  of  prisoners  was  to  be  made,  as  promised.  The 
Indians  said  they  would  no  longer  suffer  Joncaire  or  other 
Frenchmen  to  live  in  their  country.  Waiting  for  a  war  call, 
and  so  not  hunting,  they  were  impoverished  and  ought  to  have 
relief.  Johnson  had  a  trying  conference  with  them  at  his  house 
in  August.  He  had  agreed  with  a  smith  to  go  to  the  Senecas 
for  six  months  for  £70,  but  there  was  no  bellows  there  worth  a 
pin.  He  thought  he  could  get  another  smith  for  the  same  and 
had  sent  six  months'  provision  to  Onondaga,  there  being  no 
food  there. 

His  journey  to  Onondaga  in  April  and  May,  he  said  was  "  the 
most  troublesome,  fatiguing  journey  "  he  ever  took,  but  the  kind 
manner  in  which  the  Six  Nations  received  him  made  amends  for  all. 
They  were  out  of  humor  at  the  poor  results  of  the  war  and  needed 
corn,  pork  and  other  things.  The  giving  up  of  the  Canadian  expe- 
dition seemed  to  him  ruinous  and  disgusted  the  Indians.  The  Sen- 
ecas had  already  expelled  Joncaire.  The  Todirighroones,  or  Sapo- 
nies,  a  tribe  of  the  Catawbas,  were  now  allies  of  the  Six  Nations 
and  attended  some  councils.  The  Scaniadarighroones,  or  Nanti- 
cokes,  did  the  same.  They  had  no  vote,  but  could  prefer  requests 
by  virtue  of  their  adoption. 

The  Mohawks  made  no  Canadian  incursions  that  year,  but 
Governor  de  la  Galissoniere  had  a  council  with  the  Six  Nations 
Nov.  2,  1748,  Cachointioni,  (Kaghswuhtioni)  the  Onondaga  chief, 
being  present.  He  was  then  a  French  partizan,  but  afterward 
became  a  warm  friend  of  Johnson.  They  signed  a  declaration 
that  they  were  not  subject  to  Great  Britain. 

The  Cayugas  refused  to  aid  the  English  unless  they  would 
fight  like  men,  which  they  had  not  yet  done,  but  word  came 
from  Ohio  that  George  Croghan  was  informed  "  by  the  Indians 
that  there  were  730  Men  of  us  of  the  Six  Nations  settled  here  on 
Ohio  &  able  to  go  to  War,  exclusive  of  other  Nations  which  will 
make  up  as  many  more." 

A  treaty  was  held  at  Lancaster  July  19,  1748,  at  which  Scar- 
rooyady  was  speaker.  At  the  request  of  the  Six  Nations,  the 
Miamis  were  received  as  friends  by  the  English.     Weiser  was 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  29I 

soon  after  sent  to  Logstown  to  confer  with  the  Indians  there, 
and  was  shown  the  numbers  of  warriors  near  the  Ohio  by  bun- 
dles of  sticks.  There  were  74  Mohawks,  15  Oneidas,  35  Onon- 
dagas,  20  Cayugas,  and  163  Senecas  among  these;  not  half  of 
what  had  been  previously  reported.  He  held  several  councils 
with  the  Iroquois  and  others  there,  but  Johnson  questioned  the 
character  and  importance  of  these. 

Chapter  17 

Abbe  Picquet's  mission.  Shikellimy  dies.  Nanticokes  and  Shawnees  on  the 
Susquehanna.  De  Celoron  on  the  Ohio.  French  activity.  Iroquois  emi- 
grants. Johnson  buys  Onondaga  lake  and  shores.  Kalm.  Death  of  Canas- 
satego.  Cammerhoff  visits  the  Six  Nations.  Peace  with  the  Catawbas. 
Johnson  resigns  office.  French  troops  on  the  Ohio.  Iroquois  claims.  War 
with  Cherokees.  Tuscarora  towns.  Johnson  at  Onondaga.  Tanacharisson, 
the  Half  King.  Moravians  in  New  York.  Colonial  congress  at  Albany. 
Mutual  complaints.  Land  treaty  with  Pennsylvania.  Fraudulent  purchase 
of  Wyoming.     Scarrooyady,  the  new  Half  King. 

In  1748  the  Abbe  Picquet  went  to  select  a  spot  for  a  new 
settlement  and  Indian  mission  on  the  St  Lawrence,  choosing  the 
mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie  river  for  its  military  importance.  He 
went  there  in  May  1749,  building  a  storehouse  and  fort,  armed 
with  five  small  cannon.  It  was  attacked  and  burned  by  the  Mo- 
hawks Oct.  26.  This  was  on  the  site  of  Ogdensburg,  and  its 
growth  was  remarkable.  It  is  stated  that  there  were  six  families 
there  in  1749,  87  in  1750,  and  396  in  1751.  Mr  Shea  said  they 
were  mostly  Onondagas  and  Cayugas,  and  Picquet's  biographer 
says  "  he  reckoned  as  many  as  three  thousand  in  his  colony," 
which  of  course  no  one  believes.  The  same  writer  also  says 
that  these  were  of  the  most  influential  Iroquois  families,  the 
Five  Nations  having  25,000  people. 

While  such  statements  are  extravagant,  there  can  be  no  ques- 
tion that  the  post  was  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  New  York.  In  the 
same  extravagant  way  this  French  writer  goes  on  to  say: 

The  war  parties  which  departed  and  returned  continually,  filled 
the  Mission  with  so  many  prisoners  that  their  numbers  fre- 
quently surpassed  that  of  the  warriors,  rendering  it  necessary  to 
empty  the  villages  and  send  them  to  Headquarters.  In  fine  a 
number  of  other  expeditions  of  which  M.  Picquet  was  the  prin- 
cipal author  have  procured  the  promotion  of  several  officers. 


292  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

His  eulogist  ends  the  list  of  expeditions  in  which  the  warlike 
priest  was  engaged  by  saying :  "  M.  du  Quesne  said  that  the 
Abbe  Picquet  was  worth  more  than  ten  regiments." 

Shikellimy  died  in  the  winter  of  1748-49,  and  his  eldest  son 
for  a  time  took  his  place.  Some  Seneca  and  Onondaga  chiefs 
came  to  Philadelphia  July  1,  1749,  expecting  to  meet  others  on 
the  road  who  had  not  yet  arrived.  They  complained  of  squat- 
ters on  Pennsylvania  lands,  and  were  told  they  had  been  forcibly 
removed.  When  they  left,  they  were  to  tell  the  coming  deputies 
to  return,  but  these  arrived  Aug.  16,  with  280  in  the  party.  They 
proposed  sales  of  land  and  had  placed  the  Nanticokes  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Juniata,  where  others  from  Maryland  would  join 
them.  The  land  offered  was  bought  after  several  conferences 
and  the  deed  duly  signed.  The  Nanticokes  and  Shawnees  were 
willing  to  go  to  Schahandoana  or  Wyoming,  and  had  sent  two 
belts  to  the  Six  Nations  to  confirm  this. 

The  French  wished  to  secure  the  Ohio,  and  De  Celoron  went 
there,  took  possession  and  expelled  the  English  traders.  He  was 
at  the  Chautauqua  portage  July  16,  1749,  his  trip  causing  much 
excitement.  Soon  after  the  Shawnees  met  the  Six  Nations  at 
Philadelphia,  greeted  them  heartily,  and  said  they  were  coming 
to  live  nearer.  Peace  had  been  declared,  but  the  French  tried 
to  have  the  Iroquois  attack  the  Ottawas  after  this.  They  at 
first  refused  to  return  Indian  prisoners,  but  yielded  at  last. 

Governor  Clinton  for  a  time  had  all  the  French  prisoners  in 
his  hands,  and  kept  the  Iroquois  from  sending  deputies  to  Can- 
ada. Before  this  they  had  made  peace  and  exchanged  prison- 
ers separately.  It  was  necessary  to  send  Arent  Stephens  to 
Oswego  to  talk  with  the  western  Indians  there,  lest  they  should 
think  themselves  despised.  He  went  first  to  the  Six  Nations, 
announced  peace  and  condoled  the  death  of  two  sachems.  The 
French  used  to  do  this  and  raise  up  others,  but  Johnson  said  he 
would  stop  that.  He  also  instructed  the  Mohawks  to  leave  the 
exchange  to  the  governor,  thus  upsetting  French  schemes. 
About  that  time  147  canoes  brought  1177  western  Indians  to 
Oswego,  and  its  growing  trade  alarmed  the  French. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  293 

In  January  1750  the  French  sent  several  belts  to  the  Iroquois 
and  were  very  active  among  the  Indians.  At  this  time  English 
traders  held  Indian  children  as  pledges  or  pawns ;  but  Governor 
Clinton  had  them  sent  back.  In  February  Johnson  sent  a  belt 
through  the  Six  Nations  to  tell  them  that  the  French  were  mus- 
tering men,  and  they  had  better  keep  their  warriors  at  home, 
lest  surprise  should  be  attempted.  The  Shawnees  were  now 
moving  nearer  the  Iroquois  and  brought  about  two  bushels  of 
wampum,  which  was  lodged  with  Johnson  to  be  divided  among 
the  Six  Nations.     It  was  a  greater  quantity  than  he  had  ever  seen. 

English  traders  were  scattered  all  over  the  western  country 
at  this  time,  to  the  great  injury  of  the  French  trade.  Governor 
de  la  Jonquiere  thought  he  would  be  justified  in  seizing  their 
goods.  He  said  the  English  sent  messages  to  the  Indians  to 
take  the  tomahawk  against  the  French,  and  with  these  sent  "  belts 
of  wampum,  painted  red,  the  calumet,  English  flags,  &c."  Jon- 
caire  went  to  the  Ohio  to  bring  the  Indians  there  to  the  French 
interests.  If  this  could  be  done,  they  might  at  least  destroy  the 
Six  Nations.  Father  Picquet  was  trying  to  have  them  settle  at 
his  mission.  In  May  the  Cayugas  told  the  French  they  would 
be  neutral,  but  they  could  not  control  their  emigrants. 

Governor  Glen,  of  South  Carolina,  complained  that  the  Sen- 
ecas,  there  called  Nottawagees,  also  the  Five  Nations,  Delawares 
and  others  were  likely  to  destroy  the  Catawbas,  a  brave  and 
friendly  people.  Governor  Hamilton,  of  Pennsylvania,  stated 
that  many  of  the  Iroquois  had  settled  on  branches  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  were  more  numerous  there  than  in  New  York.  The 
French  and  the  Council  at  Onondaga  were  both  alarmed  at  this. 
He,  himself,  was  concerned  that  the  Council  at  Onondaga  could 
not  retain  their  people.  He  heard  that  these  Iroquois  emigrants, 
with  the  Shawnees,  Delawares,  Owendats,  or  Hurons,  and 
Twightwees,  or  Miamis,  made  a  body  of  1500  or  2000  men. 

The  Miamis  and  Hurons  sent  a  message  to  the  Six  Nations 
and  others  living  on  the  Ohio,  that  they  gave  up  the  French  and 
desired  alliance  with  them.  They  had  a  favorable  answer,  which 
included  their  fathers,  the  Grand  Council   at  Onondaga.     Jon- 


294  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

caire  had  spoken  to  the  Six  Nations  on  his  way  to  the  Ohio,  and 
a  Cayuga  sachem  came  to  Johnson  to  report  his  words.  He 
brought  a  lead  plate  by  which  Joncaire  took  possession  of 
various  points.  Several  such  plates  were  buried  in  suitable  places. 

Johnson  said  that  smiths  must  be  sent  to  the  Six  Nations, 
but  no  liquor:  "It  is  actually  the  ruin  of  them."  The  French 
were  again  seeking  permission  to  build  a  fort  at  Onondaga,  but 
Johnson  defeated  this  by  purchasing  land  there  soon  after.  The 
smiths  ought  to  have  about  £20  for  presents  to  the  Indians  of  the 
castles  where  they  went.  They  often  had  more.  Kalm,  the 
botanist,  was  at  Niagara  that  year,  and  said  the  French  were  so 
anxious  for  trade  that  they  supplied  the  Indians  all  the  brandy 
and  rum  they  wanted,  which  the  priests  had  always  before 
prevented.    Strong  drink  brought  the  Indians  there. 

Weiser  came  to  Onondaga  in  1750  in  the  interests  of  Virginia, 

but  could  effect  nothing.     The  French  party  had  the  upper  hand ; 

and  he  thought  that  nation  lost  to  the  English.     The  Onondagas 

notified   him   of  Canassatego's  death   before  he  got  there,  and 

allowed  him  to  condole  his  death  at  once  and  hold  a  council,  as 

he  had  come  so  far.     This  was  without  precedent.     One  house 

still  remained  east  of  the  creek.     Weiser  said : 

Our  Friend  Canassatego  was  buried  to  day  before  I  came  to 
Onondago,  and  Solconwanaghly,  our  other  good  friend,  died  some 
time  before.  He  that  is  on  the  head  of  affairs  now  is  a  proffessed 
Roman  Catholick,  and  altogether  devoted  to  the  French.  The 
French  Priests  have  made  a  hundred  Converts  of  the  Onon- 
dagers,  that  is  to  say  Men,  Women  and  Children,  dressed  in 
Silver  and  Gold,  and  I  believe  that  the  English  Interest  among 
the  Six  Nations  can  be  of  no  consideration  any  more.  The 
Indians  speak  with  contempt  of  the  New  Yorkers  and  Albany 
People,  and  much  the  same  of  the  rest  of  the  English  Colonies. 

In  this  year  occurred  the  notable  visit  to  the  Six  Nations  of 
the  Moravians  Cammerhoff  and  Zeisberger.  Some  years  before 
the  Moravians  planned  Indian  missions  in  New  York,  and  a 
successful  one  was  founded  in  Dutchess  county.  This  was 
stopped  by  the  authorities,  owing  to  a  violent  prejudice  against 
the  United  Brethren.  Their  attention  had  also  been  drawn  to 
the  Iroquois,  and  John  Christopher  Pyrlaeus  and  his  wife  went 


HISTORY  OF   THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  295 

to  the  Mohawk  village  of  Canajoharie  to  study  the  language 
there,  arriving  July  17,  1743.  Their  stay  was  short,  but  he 
returned  with  Anton  Seyffert  and  tried  to  reach  Onondaga.  The 
Oneidas  would  not  let  them  pass.  Zeisberger  and  Post  tried  the 
same  route  in  1745  with  less  success,  but  the  former  reached 
Onondaga  the  same  year  with  Spangenberg.  When  the  Iroquois 
were  in  Philadelphia  in  1749,  the  Moravians  consulted  some  of 
them,  and  Cammerhoff  and  Zeisberger  went  to  Onondaga  by  way 
of  Cayuga,  seeing  some  Cayuga  towns  otherwise  unmentioned. 
From  that  lake  the  trail  passed  the  foot  of  Owasco  and  Skane- 
ateles  lakes,  reaching  Onondaga  over  the  hills.  The  notes  on 
towns  and  trails  are  of  interest.  At  Onondaga  they  were  heartily 
welcomed  by  Canassatego,  before  whose  house  floated  a  large 
English  flag.  They  also  visited  the  Seneca  towns  at  much  per- 
sonal discomfort  and  peril.  Their  request  that  two  Moravians 
should  live  at  Onondaga  and  learn  the  language  was  at  last 
granted,  and  they  returned  home.  A  few  weeks  after  Canas- 
satego died,  nor  did  Cammerhoff  long  survive. 

Though  some  of  the  Catawbas  were  at  peace  with  the  Six 
Nations,  the  war  still  went  on  and  was  a  constant  annoyance  to 
settlers.  In  1751  peace  was  formally  made  at  Albany.  The 
Catawbas  "  came  down  from  their  quarters,  singing,  with  their 
colors  pointed  to  the  ground,  and  having  lit  their  pipes,  the  king 
and  one  more,  put  them  into  the  mouths  of  the  chief  sachems,  of 
the  Six  Nations,  who  smoked  out  of  them."  They  also  gave  a 
belt  having  all  their  towns  on  it,  to  show  that  all  wished  peace. 
Next  day  "  the  chief  sachem  of  the  Senecas  lit  a  pipe,  and  put  it 
into  the  mouths  of  each  of  the  Catawbas,  who  smoked  out  of  it 
and  then  he  returned  it  among  the  Six  Nations."  They  would 
complete  the  peace  when  prisoners  were  exchanged,  but  it 
amounted  to  little. 

That  year  the  Six  Nations  forbade  the  French  making  forts  on 
their  lands.  In  their  alliance  they  had  now  nine  castles  of  Far 
Indians,  or  Mississagas,  who  were  Ojibwas  or  Chippewas.  These 
were  settled  at  Caniahaga  and  sided  with  Great  Britain. 


296 


NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Colonel  Johnson  became  discouraged  at  the  lack  of  means  and 
energy,  offered  his  resignation,  and  sent  a  belt  to  all  the  nations 
that  he  was  no  longer  their  agent.  At  the  council  in  July  they 
asked  that  he  might  be  reinstated.  Receiving  no  definite  answer, 
the  Mohawks  repeated  the  request  the  next  year.  He  was  quite 
a  trader,  and  the  Albany  people  were  jealous,  for  it  was  said  that 
they  had  then  "  no  other  view  in  life  than  thai:  of  making  money." 
All  this  time  Johnson  was  active  among  the  Indians,  and  in 
1766  told  of  a  curious  transaction  of  this  year.  The  French  were 
again  scheming  for  a  fort  at  Onondaga,  and  he  interfered  for 
the  public  good.  Holding  a  conference  with  the  Onondagas,  he 
asked  them  to  grant  him  Onondaga  lake,  with  the  land  for  2  miles 
around,  and  he  would  make  them  a  handsome  present.  They 
signed  a  deed  and  he  paid  them  £350  before  witnesses.  The 
Assembly  refused  to  reimburse  him,  but  granted  him  the  tract, 
and  he  took  no  farther  steps.  He  bequeathed  this  to  his  son, 
but  it  was  a  dead  loss. 

Both  Massachusetts  and  Pennsylvania  tried  to  have  the  [Mo- 
hawks settle  on  their  frontier  as  a  means  of  defense.  "  The 
Hunt"  came  to  Oswego  in  1751,  bringing  an  account  of  the 
French  forts  farther  west.  A  large  French  force  had  gone  to 
Niagara,  and  another  had  crossed  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Ohio, 
by  way  of  Chautauqua,  meaning  to  drive  the  English  from  that 
river.  He  was  an  influential  Onondaga,  a  great  friend  of  John- 
son, and  did  much  for  the  English. 

George  Croghan  and  Andrew  Montour  held  several  confer- 
ences at  Logstown,  early  in  1751,  with  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations 
living  on  the  Ohio,  on  French  aggressions  there.  A  Dunkard 
tried  to  buy  land  on  a  branch  of  the  Ohio,  but  "  the  Indians  made 
answer  that  it  was  not  in  their  Power  to  dispose  of  Lands;  that 
he  must  apply  to  the  Council  at  Onondago."  Weiser  was  sent 
there  in  June,  but  met  the  Indians  at  Albany,  delivered  his  mes- 
sage  and  returned. 

(  k)vernor  de  la  Jonquiere  held  a  council  with  some  Onondagas 
July  11,  1 75 1.  They  claimed  the  Ohio  lands  by  conquest,  and 
he  said   no   settlements  should   be   made   without  their  consent. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  297 

This  was  thought  a  mistake,  as  La  Salle  discovered  the  river 
when  no  Iroquois  were  there,  but  only  Shawnees,  who  were 
friends  of  the  French.  The  Iroquois  claim  was  from  the  Erie 
conquest.  The  Cherokees  had  killed  18  Iroquois,  and  Jonquiere 
wished  the  latter  to  make  war  on  them,  thinking  this  would 
help  the  French.  He  died  May  17,  1752,  and  was  succeeded  by 
De  Longueuil. 

War  parties  went  against  the  Cherokees  in  1752.  In  that  year 
three  Moravians  visited  Onondaga,  and  there  were  French  tra- 
ders there  from  time  to  time.  J.  Martin  Mack,  Gottfried  Rundt, 
and  David  Zeisberger  left  Bethlehem  for  that  place,  via  New 
York,  July  26,  reaching  there  Aug.  20.  Mack  soon  returned, 
leaving  the  others  to  study  the  language,  and  from  them  we  have 
a  list  of  the  Tuscarora  towns.  These  were  Canaseraga,  Gana- 
tisgoa  afterward  contracted  to  S'ganatees,  Tiachsochratota,  and 
Tiochrungwe.  Johnson  came  there  that  year,  but  only  as  a 
trader,  buying  ginseng  largely.  They  returned  Nov.  25.  Many 
Indians  were  employed  in  digging  ginseng  and  the  visiting 
Moravians  got  part  of  their  supplies  in  this  way. 

In  April  1753,  runners  came  to  Johnson  from  Onondaga  to 
say  that  French  and  Indians  were  assembling  at  Oswegatchie, 
equipped  for  war.  They  would  send  word  whether  they  were 
coining  against  them  or  the  Ohio  Indians.  Soon  after  a  French 
army  passed  Oswego  on  the  way  to  the  Ohio,  to  make  good  their 
claims  there,  even  by  force.  On  account  of  these  grasping  claims, 
many  Indians  left  Oswegatchie. 

Andrew^  Montour  went  to  Onondaga  that  year  to  invite  the 
Iroquois  to  a  council  at  Winchester  Va.,  but  they  declined  going. 
(  Onrad  Weiser  also  came  to  the  Mohawks  by  way  of  New  York, 
intending  to  go  to  Onondaga,  and  said  the  Six  Nations  were 
afraid  of  the  French.  Johnson  showed  him  his  commission  as 
Indian  superintendent  and  treated  him  kindly,  saying  he  might 
go  on,  but  seeming  not  to  wish  this.  Governor  Clinton  was 
pleased  that  he  went  no  farther.  When  Montour  was  at  Onon- 
daga in  February,  he  "  said  he  saw  plainly  the  Indians  were 
frighted,   and   that   there   was   a  Strong   Party   for   the   French 


298  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

among  the  Indians,  and  the  Senecas  particularly  were  in  their 
Interest."  He  was  there  again  in  August  with  messages  from 
Virginia  and  Pennsylvania. 

Gov.  Danvers  Osborne  dying  suddenly,  Gov.  James  De- 
lancey  succeeded  him  and  Colonel  Johnson  was  sent  to  Onon- 
daga to  bury  the  hatchet,  which  had  not  been  formally  done 
and  the  Iroquois  were  sensitive  on  these  points.  Governor 
Delancey  said: 

I  thought  it  would  be  for  His  Majesty's  Service  that  once  in 
some  years  a  person  with  a  publick  character  and  some  small 
present  should  be  sent  up  to  Onondago  which  is  the  place  of  the 
General  meeting  of  the  five  Nations. 

Johnson  entered  Onondaga  Castle  Sep.  8,  1753,  being  met  by 
the  sachems  a  mile  from  the  town.  Kaghswughtioni,  or  Red 
Head,  made  a  speech,  to  which  Johnson  replied,  condoling  the 
deaths  of  three  noted  sachems.  It  was  a  saying  among  them  that, 
when  the  fire  went  out  at  Onondaga,  they  would  no  longer  be  a 
people.  It  now  burned  low,  and  he  came  to  rekindle  it.  They 
thanked  him  for  speaking  in  their  manner.  He  found  some 
Frenchmen  there  and  came  by  the  lake  himself.  In  May  he  had 
referred  to  a  council  held  at  Onondaga  a  year  earlier,  in  which 
the  Six  Nations  resolved  not  to  go  to  Virginia,  but  were  willing 
to  treat  with  that  colony  at  Albany.  He  did  not  understand 
what  was  meant  by  a  conference  at  Logstown.  Not  an  Iro- 
quois had  gone  there,  and,  if  wampum  was  left,  it  must  have  been 
with  the  Shawnees.  Mere  messages  were  valueless,  "  unless 
attended  or  confirmed  by  a  string  or  belt  of  wampum,  which  they 
look  upon  as  we  our  letters,  or  rather  bonds." 

In  December  Arent  Stephens  took  a  message  to  both  castles 
of  the  Mohawks,  and  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras,  with  which 
they  were  well  pleased.     A  trusty  Onondaga  bore  it  to  the  others. 

The  French  attempts  on  the  Ohio  failed  that  year,  but  would 
be  resumed  the  next,  and  the  Iroquois  could  not  resist.  It  was 
said  that  Picquct  at  first  wished  to  have  his  fort  on  Onondaga 
lake.  The  previous  year  the  French  had  sent  Caughnawagas 
among  the   Six  Nations  to  promote   war  against   the   southern 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  299 

Indians,  with  whom  both  had  enmity  beyond  the  memory  of  man. 
They  also  let  loose  the  Ottawas  on  the  Mississagas,  driving  them 
farther  east. 

In  Ohio  the  Half  King,  Tanacharisson,  had  warned  the  French 
to  leave  the  lands  of  the  Six  Nations.  Scarrooyady  said  the> 
sent  them-  three  warnings  according  to  their  custom.  The  third 
time  they  said : 

I  tell  you  in  plain  Words  You  must  go  off  this  land.  You  say 
You  have  a  strong  Body,  a  strong  Neck,  and  a  strong  Voice, 
that  when  You  speak  all  the  Indians  must  hear  You.  It  is  true 
You  are  a  strong  Body  and  ours  is  but  weak,  yet  We  are  not 
afraid  of  You.  We  forbid  you  to  come  any  farther ;  turn  back 
to  the  Place  from  whence  You  came. 

Scarrooyady  gave  his  reason  for  the  three  messages : 

Because,  said  he,  the  great  Being  who  lives  above,  has  ordered 
Us  to  send  Three  Messages  of  Peace  before  we  make  War;  And 
as  the  Half  King  had  before  this  Time  delivered  the  third  and 
last  Message,  We  had  nothing  now  to  do  but  to  strike  the  French. 

A  letter  had  come  telling  of  the  Half  King's  action : 

The  Half  King  went  to  the  French  Fort  to  know  what  was 
the  Reason  of  their  coming  to  settle  the  Lands  on  Ohio.  The 
Commander  told  him  the  Land  was  their's  and  discharged  him 
and  told  him  he  was  an  Old  Woman  and  all  his  Nation  was  in 
their  Favour  only  him,  and  if  he  would  not  go  home  he  would 
put  him  in  Irons.  He  came  home  and  told  the  English  to  go  off 
the  Place  for  fear  they  should  be  hurt,  with  Tears  in  his  Eyes. 

Two  Moravians  came  to  Onondaga  in  1753,  leaving  Bethlehem 
Ap.  23  and  reaching  Onondaga  June  8.  They  were  Henry  Frey 
and  David  Zeisberger,  and  their  journey  is  chiefly  remarkable 
for  the  ascent  of  the  Tioughnioga  river.  They  lost  some  time 
trying  to  penetrate  the  wilderness  from  Owego  by  land,  and  some 
with  the  Nanticokes,  who  were  removing  to  New  York.  They 
fell  in  with  their  fleet  of  canoes  as  they  were  going  up  the  river 
to  settle  at  Otsiningo,  (Chenango)  a  little  north  of  Binghamton. 
Their  return  by  the  same  route  began  Oct.  13  and  ended  Nov.  10, 
but  they  visited  friends  on  the  way.  These  Moravian  journals 
have  many  interesting  facts  not  otherwise  preserved. 

David  Zeisberger  and   Charles  Frederick  made  a  later  visit, 


300  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

leaving  Bethlehem  June  9,  1754,  going  by  Oneida  lake  and  reach- 
ing Onondaga  July  21,  and  arriving  home  June  4,  1755.  They 
stayed  till  May  18,  1755.  This  was  the  last  and  longest  Moravian 
residence  there.  They  founded  no  mission,  all  of  their  work  being 
of  a  preparatory  kind. 

The  western  Indians  grew  restive.  George  Croghan  wrote  to 
Governor  Hamilton,  May  14,  1754,  "  ye  Government  may  have 
what  opinion  they  will  of  ye  Ohio  Indians,  and  think  they  are 
obligd  to  Do  what  ye  Onondago  Counsel  will  bid  them,  Butt  I 
ashure  y1'  honour  they  will  actt  for  themselves  att  this  time, 
without  consulting  ye  Onondago  Councel." 

That  year  the  Mohawks  said  they  had  lost  some  influence 
in  council  from  being  thought  Johnson's  advisers.  The  Onon- 
dagas  were  exhorted  to  live  in  one  castle,  as  of  old.  Most  of 
those  who  had  gone  to  Oswegatchie  were  Onondagas  and  Cay- 
ugas,  and  some  said  half  the  Onondagas  were  there,  and  that  the 
Senecas  were  wavering.  It  was  time  that  the  English  should 
awake  to  their  danger. 

A  congress  of  seven  colonies  opened  in  Albany  June  19,  1754. 
These  were  New  York,  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Con- 
necticut, Rhode  Island,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  Virginia 
and  Carolina  desired  to  be  considered  present.  The  plan  was 
to  have  a  colonial  union  established  by  act  of  Parliament.  There 
was  also  an  Indian  conference.  The  Oswego  traders,  47  in 
number,  complained  that  the  Indians  at  the  Mohawk  and  Cana- 
joharie  castles  forcibly  took  what  rum  they  wanted,  and  the 
(  )neidas  did  the  same  at  the  carrying  place,  beside  charging 
exorbitantly  for  carriage.  Mendrick  complained  o\  land  frauds 
and  of  the  inefficiency  of  the  English.  The  Mohawks  would 
have  taken  Crown  Point  had  they  been  allowed. 

The  governor  of  New  York  said  that  Johnson  was  still  their 
friend  ;  but,  as  he  "  for  some  reasons  declined  the  management 
of  Indian  affairs,  it  was  thoughl  proper  to  re-kindle  the  fire  here, 
by  appointing  Commiss"  whom  I  shall  direel  to  receive  and 
consult  with  you,  upon  all  business  that  ma\  concern  our  mutual 
interests."     This    would    be   tried   a   year   longer.     The   Indians 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  3OI 

were  not  enthusiastic.  Though  notice  had  been  given  of  a  large 
present,  not  more  than  150  men  of  all  nations  attended.  They 
wanted  rum  kept  out  of  their  castles,  and  it  was  thought  fines 
and  imprisonment  might  be  the  penalty  for  unlawful  sales. 

Johnson  said  the  French  should  be  kept  out  of  Onondaga  river 
by  a  stricter  watch  at  Oswego,  and  that  Englishmen  should 
be  placed  in  every  nation,  with  forts,  missionaries  and  smiths 
among  the  Onondagas  and  Senecas.  Educated  young  men 
should  go,  who  might  become  interpreters,  teachers  and  cate- 
chists.  Governor  Delancey  said  the  commander  of  a  fort  at 
Onondaga  might  be  made  a  sachem  and  have  a  voice  in  Indian 
councils.  The  French  increased  their  influence  by  such  adop- 
tions. 

Conrad  Weiser  was  at  this  council,  and  the  land  treaty  with 
Pennsylvania  was  adjusted.  Hendrick  said  the  Six  Nations 
reserved  the  Wyoming  and  Shamokin  lands  as  hunting  grounds, 
and  Taghneghtoris,  or  John  Shikellimy,  was  appointed  to  take 
care  of  them.  After  the  council  Colonel  Lydius  made  a  fraudu- 
lent purchase  of  these  lands  for  a  Connecticut  company,  and 
this  made  later  trouble. 

Tanacharisson,  the  Half  King,  died  this  year.  John  Harris 
wrote  from  his  ferry,  (now  Harrisburg)  Oct.  29,  1754: 

On  the  first  of  this  Instant  Monacatootha  and  Several  Others, 
the  Chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  came  to  my  house  and  brought  the 
half  King  and  his  Family  along  with  them,  who  were  in  General 
in  a  very  low  Condition,  particularly  himself,  who  died  in  a  few 
days,  after  which  I  asked  Monacatootha  and  others  where  they 
chused  to  bury  him  and  in  what  Manner,  or  if  they  wanted  any 
thing  Necessary  for  his  funeral ;  their  Answer  was  that  they 
looked  on  him  to  be  like  one  of  our  Selves,  and  as  he  died  among 
us  we  might  bury  him  as  we  thought  proper;  that  if  he  was 
buried  well  it  would  be  very  good,  which  I  did  much  to  their 
Satisfaction. 

In  November  the  Indians  resolved  to  send  Scarrooyady,  alias 
Monacatootha,  and  two  other  chiefs  to  Onondaga,  to  report 
affairs  and  ask  advice.  Governor  Morris  was  informed,  and 
in  December  1754 

His  Honour  informed  the  Council  that  Scarrooyady  an  Oneido 


302  NEW    YORK  ,STATE    MUSEUM 

Indian,  who  succeeds  Tanachrisson  or  the  Half  King  in  the 
Direction  of  Indian  Aughwick  was  come  to  Town  along  with 
Two  other  Indians  in  their  Way  to  Onondago. 

A  conference  followed,  and  Governor  Morris  sent  a  belt  to 
Onondaga  about  the  Connecticut  land  sale.  He  also  wrote  to 
Governor  Fitch  of  that  colony,  and  Hendrick  promised  to  undo 
the  mischief. 

M.  Duquesne  held  a  council  with  part  of  the  Six  Nations  at 
Quebec  in  October  1754.  The  Senecas  did  not  come.  The 
Onondagas  came  but  took  no  part.  A  secret  conference  followed 
with  the  Oneidas,  Cayugas  and  Tuscaroras,  who  favored  the 
French.  They  then  invited  the  others  and  reproved  them.  Some 
Oswegatchie  Indians,  who  had  been  to  Albany,  gave  up  their 
English  medals  to  the  French.  The  deputies  also  decided  that 
Albany  and  Oswego  should  not  be  molested.  A  council  that 
winter,  at  Onondaga,  would  decide  on  the  French  proposals. 

Chapter  18 

Wyoming  deed  to  be  destroyed.  Johnson's  speech.  Council  fire  now  at  Mt 
Johnson.  Storehouses  at  Oneida  Portage.  Battle  of  Lake  George.  Death  of 
Hendrick.  Braddock's  defeat.  Delawares  and  Shawnees  claim  to  be  men. 
Ticonderoga  built.  Forts  among  the  Six  Nations.  Fort  Bull  destroyed.  War 
declared  on  the  Delawares,  who  are  reproved  by  the  Six  Nations.  Johnson's 
condolence  of  an  Onondaga  sachem.  Council  at  Onondaga  lake.  Road  to 
Oswego  made.  Indians  take  the  hatchet.  Oswego  destroyed.  Easton 
council.     Teedyuscung.     Oneidas  give  up  medals,  scalps  and  belts. 

Hendrick  and  some  Mohawks  were  in  Philadelphia  Jan.  15, 
1755,  and  said  that  the  Connecticut  deed  should  be  destroyed, 
but  he  could  not  do  it.  It  must  be  done  at  Onondaga.  He 
advised  a  meeting  of  two  chiefs  from  each  nation  to  settle  the 
matter :  "  But  then  as  it  is  a  War  Time,  We  advise  that  this  be 
done  as  soon  as  possible,  for  We  who  are  here  to-day  may  not 
be  here  to-morrow."     He  was  killed  that  year. 

Scarrooyady  made  a  report  Mar.  31.  The  Mohawks  advised 
him  to  go  to  Onondaga,  "  but  hearing  on  all  hands  that  the  Onon- 
dagers  were  not  well  affected  to  the  English,"  he  stopped  at 
(  Ineida,  where  French  influence  was  strong.  The  Oneidas  said 
this  was  wise,  and  added :    "  Nobody  cared  now  to  do  Business 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  303 

at  Onondago.  All  Persons  who  were  in  the  English  Interest 
and  had  Business  to  do  with  the  Six  Nations  of  late  came  round 
about  Onondago  and  passed  by  the  Town." 

Till  1755  a  large  French  trade  was  carried  on  at  Albany  by 
the  Caughnawagas,  the  Indians  preferring  English  strouds  to 
French  goods.  In  June  Johnson  had  a  warrant  from  General 
Braddock  as  sole  superintendent  of  the  Six  Nations,  their  allies 
and  dependents.  June  21  we  have  "  Hon.  Wm.  Johnson's  first 
public  speech  to  the  Indians  "  as  superintendent,  translated  into 
Mohawk  by  Daniel  Clause  and  delivered  for  Johnson  by  Red 
Head,  the  Onondaga  speaker.  He  removed  the  council  fire  from 
Albany  to  Mount  Johnson,  and  his  familiar  emblem  of  a  bundle 
of  sticks  was  applauded.  There  were  1106  Indians  present,  and 
more  men  than  he  had  ever  seen  at  a  council.  The  Elder 
Brothers  made  Red  Head  speaker,  and  an  Indian  reported  that 
the  Oswegatchie  settlement  had  been  broken  up  for  want  of  pro- 
visions and  Fort  Frontenac  strengthened.  The  Mississagas 
came  and  made  alliance,  and  Arent  Stephens  danced  the  war- 
dance,  to  "  which  the  sachems  bore  the  usual  chorus." 

Johnson  tried  to  keep  rum  from  the  Indians  at  this  time,  with 
but  partial  success,  and  raised  some  sachems.  The  Onondagas 
asked  for  a  fort,  as  they  would  fight  the  French.  He  told  the 
Oneidas  that  General  Shirley  would  have  to  build  a  magazine  at 
each  end  of  the  portage  and  hoped  they  would  not  hinder  it. 
They  replied  that  work  begun  had  been  stopped  by  them,  as  they 
had  received  no  message.  Now  it  should  go  on.  They  com- 
plained of  Germans  on  their  lands  who  were  there  by  permission, 
not  ownership,  and  who  made  trouble. 

In  September  Johnson  had  250  men  with  him  at  Lake  George 
and  more  were  coming.  He  was  building  a  fort  there,  had  made 
a  good  wagon  road  to  Albany,  and  cleared  ground  to  encamp 
5000  men,  whom  he  expected  to  arrive  soon.  He  hoped  to  pass 
the  lake,  take  post  at  Ticonderoga,  and  then  attack  Crown  Point. 
The  French  advanced,  fighting  followed  Sep.  8,  in  which  Colonel 
Williams  and  King  Hendrick  fell  on  the  English  side,  and  Baron 
Dieskau   was  taken   on   the    French.      Hendrick   fell   under  his 


304  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

horse,  being  an  old  and  heavy  man,  and  was  bayoneted.  The 
Iroquois,  losing  30  men  and  being  discouraged  by  this  and  the 
numbers  of  the  French,  at  once  returned  home. 

General  Johnson  was  knighted  for  his  good  conduct ;  and 
General  Shirley  wished  him  to  call  a  council  at  Onondaga,  and 
also  privately  to  engage  some  Iroquois  to  go  against  the  French 
and  Indians  on  the  Ohio.  They  could  join  a  party  already  in 
Pennsylvania  and  get  the  Susquehanna  Indians  to  go  too.  John- 
son did  not  approve  of  his  having  other  Indian  agents  and  wished 
a  fixed  sum  for  himself  and  the  secretary,  Mr  Wraxall.  When 
the  Indians  came  to  him,  they  had. to  be  maintained,  and  a  jour- 
ney to  Onondaga  or  Oswego  was  expensive.  Shirley  proved  a 
poor  manager,  but  Massachusetts  appropriated  funds  to  secure 
Iroquois  aid,  and  the  garrison  at  Oswego  was  reinforced  by  four 
companies.    Desertions  were  frequent  there. 

The  Six  Nations  had  little  to  do  with  Braddock's  affairs,  though 
Scarrooyady  and  a  few  others  were  with  him  at  his  defeat  July  9. 
They  were  displeased  because  he  did  not  consult  them. 

Most  of  the  Ohio  Indians  were  dissatisfied  with  the  Albany 
purchase  of  Susquehanna  lands,  and  this  led  to  hostilities  with 
the  Delawares  and  Shawnees.  The  year  before  they  had  asked 
that  they  might  no  longer  be  clad  like  women,  but  fight  like  men 
for  themselves.  A  change  had  come  over  them,  and,  being 
encouraged  by  the  French,  they  now  fought  without  leave.  The 
French  policy  had  hitherto  been  to  weaken  the  Indians.  This 
having  been  sufficiently  done,  they  were  now  to  be  protected,  but 
they  were  not  always  reliable.  At  the  battle  of  Lake  George  the 
Canadian  Iroquois  refused  to  attack  the  English  camp,  and  helped 
defeat  the  French  by  later  inaction.  M.  de  Yaudreuil  had  a  con- 
ference at  Montreal  with  the  Senecas  Oct.  I,  1755,  who  came  to 
bring  Joncaire  home.  Some  other  Iroquois  came  later,  and  he 
thought  all  were  in  the  French  interest  except  the  Onondagas 
and  Mohawks.     That  year  the  French  occupied  Ticonderoga. 

In  1756  the  Earl  of  Loudon  became  commander  in  chief,  and 
was  empowered  to  furnish  Johnson  all  lie  required  for  forts  or 
smiths    among    the    Indians.       Johnson's    general    plans    were 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW   YORK    IROQUOIS  305 

approved ;  and  he  had  a  council  with  the  Six  Nations,  who  were 
firm  in  the  British  alliance  and  pleased  with  the  proposed  council 
at  Oswego.  All  but  the  Cayugas  desired  forts  in  their  country, 
and  every  Indian  castle  ought  to  have  a  minister.  He  wished 
two  persons  of  unblemished  character  as  chaplains  for  the  pro- 
posed garrisons  at  Onondaga  and  Oneida,  and  as  missionaries 
to  the  Indians.  Something  should  be  done  for  the  Rev.  Mr 
Ogilvie,  who  was  doing  excellent  work  among  the  Mohawks. 

The  conference  mentioned  seems  the  one  held  in  June  1756 
at  Onondaga,  but  which  was  deferred  at  the  request  of  the  Mo- 
hawks, several  minor  councils  taking  place  meantime.  At  one 
in  February  Johnson  condoled  the  deaths  of  Hendrick  and  others, 
and  gave  six  French  prisoners  to  replace  them.  Some  remote 
Senecas  were  present  at  this  time,  who  had  never  been  at  John- 
son's before  and  had  come  from  Ganuskago,  where  Dansville 
now  stands.  He  was  sorry  they  still  had  trouble  in  the  south. 
At  this  time  Sir  William  gave  "  the  largest  pipe  in  America, 
made  on  purpose,"  to  be  hung  up  in  the  council  house  at  Onon- 
daga, and  smoked  at  important  councils.  The  presents  amounted 
to  £1085,  and  the  French  were  still  more  liberal. 

Late  in  March  1756  Lieutenant  de  Lery,  with  some  French- 
men and  Canadian  Iroquois,  passed  Oswegatchie,  came  to  the 
Oneida  portage  and  destroyed  Fort  Bull.  Five  English  forts 
were  abandoned  next  year  and  replaced  by  another  there.  Some 
Onondagas  condoled  Johnson  on  this  first  loss  in  April.  They 
desired  an  early  council  in  their  town  ;  and,  as  it  would  be  large 
and  they  had  few  provisions,  they  wished  he  would  send  some 
for  their  guests.  Workmen  were  ready  to  build  their  forts,  and 
orders  were  given  for  the  Oneida  fort  on  Ap.  21  ;  for  the  Onon- 
daga Ap.  30.  Horses  were  employed  in  the  work.  Each  was  a 
square  stockade  with  two  blockhouses  at  opposite  angles,  and 
several  such  forts  were  built  that  year,  traces  of  some  still 
remaining. 

In  May  Johnson  was  formally  invited  to  the  council  held  at 
Onondaga  in  June.  He  said  there  were  many  deserters  from 
Oswego  among  the  Indians,  who  made  trouble  by  their  false- 


306  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

hoods.  Great  numbers  of  these  were  among  the  Delawares  and 
Susquehanna  Indians.  He  conferred  with  some  Oneida  and 
Seneca  chiefs ;  also  with  two  Seneca  women.  They  said  it  was 
common  to  take  women  into  their  councils,  specially  among  the 
Senecas.  There  were  frequent  instances  of  this  among  the  other 
Iroquois.  At  this  time  the  Mohawks  did  not  wish  him  to  go  to 
the  Onondaga  council,  and  he  yielded  so  far  as  to  send  messen- 
gers there  first.  On  their  return  the  Mohawks  advised  him  to 
go,  but  with  a  guard,  as  French  parties  made  the  road  danger- 
ous, and  he  would  be  a  valued  prize. 

In  Pennsylvania  Braddock's  defeat  had  turned  the  scale  with 
the  dissatisfied  Delawares,  and  they  became  hostile,  siding  with 
the  French.  On  this,  Pennsylvania  declared  war  in  the  winter 
of  1755-56.  Scarrooyady,  the  new  Half  King,  favored  this  and 
thought  the  Six  Nations  would  approve.  Johnson  disliked  both 
the  declaration  and  the  large  scalp  bounty.  It  was  a  bad  move 
just  before  a  general  council,  alarmed  the  Iroquois  and  might 
keep  the  southern  Indians  away.  Many  conferences  followed 
in  Pennsylvania,  the  Iroquois  there  adhering  to  the  colony,  while 
the  Delawares  said  they  were  "  determined  to  fight  the  English 
as  long  as  there  is  a  Man  left."  The  Six  Nations  ordered  them 
to  stop,  but  they  were  defiant  at  first,  and  then  word  was  sent  that 
they  would  obey.  A  council  was  held  at  Otsiningo,  to  which  300 
Delaware  warriors  came,  agreeing  to  lay  down  the  hatchet  at 
the  wish  of  the  Six  Nations.  They  were  still  told  they  were 
women  and  severely  reproved,  but  more  latitude  was  allowed  them. 

Johnson  arrived  at  Oneida  June  13,  conferring  with  some 
Indians  there.  He  was  shown  a  French  belt,  inviting  the  Onon- 
daga, Cayuga,  Oneida  and  Tuscarora  chiefs  to  a  treaty  at  Mon- 
treal June  15.  His  visit  now  was  as  a  mourner,  as  the  condoling 
council  must  precede  business,  his  warm  friend,  the  Onondaga 
speaker,  having  died.     The  account  is  of  interest: 

Sir  William  and  the  sachems  of  every  nation,  prepared  the 

several  speeches  of  condolence  to  be  made  at  Onondaga  upon  the 
death  of  Kaghswoughtioony,  alias  Red  Head,  chief  sachem  of 
said  nation,  and  chose  the  proper  belts  for  the  ceremony. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  307 

June  18  two  Cayugas  met  Sir  William  "  at  the  place  where  the 
Onondagas  formerly  lived/'  about  5  miles  from  their  habitation 
at  that  time.  This  was  south  of  Jamesville,  and  they  were  now 
on  the  west  side  of  Onondaga  creek.  He  was  to  send  word 
when  he  would  enter  the  town,  that  the  Cayugas,  representing 
the  Younger  Brothers,  might  meet  him  and  join  in  his  condolence 
of  the  great  Onondaga  chief.  Three  Cayugas  met  him  a  mile 
from  the  castle,  halting  two  hours  to  settle  all  forms  according 
to  ancient  custom.  Then  Johnson  marched  on  at  the  head  of  the 
chiefs,  part  of  whom  sang  the  condoling  song,  containing  the 
names,  laws  and  customs  of  their  renowned  ancestors,  and  asking 
happiness  for  the  departed. 

When  they  came  in  sight  of  the  castle,  they  found  the  head 
chiefs  and  warriors  seated  "  in  a  half  moon  across  the  road,  in 
profound  silence. "  In  the  hour's  halt  there,  the  condoling  song 
was  again  sung,  hands  were  shaken  and  the  visitors  welcomed. 
Then  Sir  William  led  the  warriors,  the  sachems  in  the  rear  sing- 
ing the  same  song.  All  in  the  town  fired  their  guns  as  a  salute, 
and  this  was  returned  by  his  party.  He  was  then  taken  to  an 
arbor  by  Red  Head's  house,  where  he  was  addressed  by  the  chiefs. 
Next  day  the  grand  ceremony  was  performed  with  11  belts  and 
three  strings,  followed  by  an  enemy's  scalp  to  replace  the  dead, 
and  a  glass  of  rum  to  wash  away  grief.  This  ended  the  cere- 
mony, which  did  not  include  the  raising  of  a  new  chief. 

June  20  Johnson  encamped  by  the  lake,  5  miles  from  the  castle, 
to  be  near  his  boats,  provisions  and  presents.  A  long  council 
followed.  An  Oswegatchie  Indian  said  the  French  meant  to 
build  a  fort  at  Oswego  Falls  and  another  at  the  west  end  of 
Oneida  lake.  Another  party  would  ravage  German  Flats  and  a 
fourth  attack  Johnson's  house,  kill  or  take  him,  and  ravage  the 
lower  Mohawk.  The  Indians  rejected  a  French  belt  and  cast  it 
on  the  ground.  Messengers  from  the  Susquehanna  said  the 
Nanticoke  king  at  Otsiningo  was  dead.  Delawares,  Shawnees 
and  others  came  June  27,  and  the  new  Half  King  was  present. 

June  28  the  war  song  was  sung,  and  Johnson  promised  them 
a  roasted  ox  at  the  war  dance  next  day.     July  1  they  gave  him 


308  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

leave  to  open  a  road  to  Oswego.  The  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras 
would  help  make  it  from  German  Flats  to  Canaseraga,  and  the 
Onondagas  thence  to  Oswego.  He  might  build  a  fort  at  Oswego 
Falls,  to  be  destroyed  when  the  war  was  over.  He  gave  the 
Indians  kettles  to  feast  on  their  enemies'  flesh,  which  is  noted 
as  figurative;  eating  meat  out  of  the  kettles  at  a  war  feast  being 
called  eating  a  Frenchman's  flesh,  as  drinking  is  then  termed 
drinking  an  enemy's  blood. 

He  placed  a  medal  on  the  Onondaga  speaker's  neck.  A  treaty 
was  made  with  the  Delawares  and  Shawnees,  and  the  former  were 
fixed  at  Tioga  by  the  Six  Nations,  where  some  Iroquois  then 
lived.  The  Iroquois  feared  the  French  because  of  their  many 
Indian  allies.  On  reaching  home  he  had  another  conference  with 
the  Delawares  and  Shawnees.  With  the  consent  of  the  Six 
Nations,  he  declared  the  former  no  longer  women  but  men,  but 
they  were  not  formally  made  so  for  many  years  later.  He  sent 
out  many  parties,  and  the  Indians  were  pleased  with  their  new 
forts. 

Various  collisions  preceded  the  fall  of  Oswego,  the  most  impor- 
tant being  Bradstreet's  successful  fight  at  Oswego  Falls,  of 
which  the  French  and  English  gave  very  different  accounts. 
While  returning  from  Oswego  with  300  boatmen  and  their  boats, 
he  was  attacked  from  the  east  side  of  the  river  at  Battle  island, 
July  3,  1756.  Landing  on  the  small  island  there  with  six  men, 
he  held  it  till  reinforced,  repulsing  three  assaults.  Thence  the 
contest  followed  the  west  bank  to  the  falls,  lasting  three  hours. 

Oswego  was  invested  by  Montcalm  Aug.  11,  and  surrendered 
Aug.  14,  Col.  Mercer  having  been  killed.  With  its  siege  the 
Six  Nations  had  nothing  to  do,  but  the  French  had  many  sav- 
ages with  them,  whose  mere  yells  did  as  much  toward  the  sur- 
render as  the  guns  of  the  French.  Their  Indians,  they  said, 
"perpetrated  a  multitude  of  horrors,  and  assassinated  more  than 
100  persons  included  in  the  capitulation,  without  our  being  able 
to  prevent  them,  or  having  the  right  to  remonstrate." 

The  dilatory — to  use  no  stronger  word — General  Webb  got 
only  to  the  Oneida  portage.     Learning  there  the  loss  of  Oswego, 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  309 

he  destroyed  all  the  forts  at  the  carrying-place  and  marched  back, 
disgusting  his  Indian  allies,  who  said  it  looked  like  giving  up, 
so  needless  was  this.  The  Onondagas  proved  their  character 
as  "  men  of  business  "  by  securing  some  of  the  provisions  left 
at  Oswego,  and  heard  that  ioo  of  the  English  were  massacred 
there  by  drunken  Indians.  Johnson  sent  out  many  parties  that 
year,  and  reported  various  conferences  of  moderate  importance. 

In  the  Easton  council  in  Pennsylvania,  July  28,  1756,  the 
Delaware  chief,  Teedyuscung,  said  he  had  been  made  king  over 
five  united  nations,  and  represented  the  Iroquois  also.  The 
latter  afterward  denied  this  emphatically.  Major  Parsons  thus 
described  him :  "  He  is  a  lusty  raw  bon'd  Man,  haughty,  and 
very  desirous  of  Respect  and  Commendation ;  he  can  drink  three 
Quarts  or  a  Gallon  of  Rum  a  day,  without  being  Drunk." 

The  Cherokees  and  other  southern  nations  joined  the  English, 
and  both  the  Iroquois  and  Delawares  said  they  would  never  fight 
on  the  same  side  with  them.  Another  council  followed  at  Easton 
in  October,  and  peace  was  made.  During  these  troubles  Shi- 
kellimy's  three  sons  found  refuge  with  the  Delawares. 

In  July  1756  some  Cayugas  and  Senecas  were  at  Niagara  and 
said  they  would  remain  neutral,  but  part  went  against  the  Eng- 
lish at  Oswego  and  elsewhere.  Chauvignerie  formed  a  band  of 
29  Cayugas,  Onondagas  and  Senecas  against  the  English  on  the 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  were  afterward  publicly  thanked  for  killing 
many  English  there.    These  Indians  may  have  been  emigrants. 

The  Onondagas  and  Oneidas  sent  80  deputies  to  Montreal  in 
July,  and  they  were  kept  till  after  the  surrender  of  Oswego  in 
August.  Governor  de  Vaudreuil  said  that  Johnson  would  thus 
be  deprived  of  expected  aid.  The  news  was  announced  to  them 
Aug.  20,  when  there  were  150  Iroquois  there,  and  they  naturally 
and  rather  warmly  congratulated  the  victors. 

Some  Onondagas  and  Cayugas  came  to  Montreal  late  in 
November  1756  and  had  an  audience  on  the  30th.  They  noticed 
that  some  usual  ceremonies  were  omitted,  for,  when  the  Five 
Nations  came,  it  was  customary  to  send  an  interpreter  with 
wampum  to  meet  them  and  to  salute  them  with  five  guns.     Others 


310  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

came  later,  and  about  ioo  were  at  the  council  which  opened 
Dec.  13,  continuing-  till  the  30th.  No  Mohawks  were  present, 
but  all  there  were  friendly  to  the  French,  the  Oneidas  particu- 
larly so.  The  latter  gave  up  their  English  medals,  and  left  17 
deputies  to  spend  the  winter  there.  It  was  a  great  expense 
holding  such  a  council,  but  unavoidable.  The  meeting  was  thus 
summed  up : 

Such  has  been  this  famous  embassy  of  the  Five  Nations,  the 
most  important  that  has  occurred  for  a  long  time,  and  which 
ought  to  be  regarded  as  indeed  important  under  existing  circum- 
stances. .  .  The  neutrality  of  those  Nations  is  one  of  the 
greatest  advantages  we  could  obtain  over  the  English. 

The  French  desired  more  than  neutrality,  which  the  Cayugas 
are  said  to  have  long  maintained.     A  shrewd  move  was  made : 

The  Oneidas  presented  the  Cayugas  a  Belt  from  which  an 
English  scalp  was  suspended.  This  proceeding  had  been  the 
thought  of  an  Iroquois,  a  shrewd  politician  to  get  an  English 
scalp  introduced  into  the  cabin  of  the  Cayugas,  where,  as  yet, 
there  have  not  been  any. 

The  Indians  desired  to  look  into  French  customs  of  a  social 
nature,  in  which  they  might  share.  It  is  said :  "  The  Ambassa- 
dors asked  to  remain  until  the  morrow,  New  Year's  day,  because 
they  had  been  told  that  on  that  day  the  Pale  faces  kissed  each 
other  and  that  liquor  was  furnished." 

Among  other  curious  notes  of  this  council   is  the  following: 

In  regard  to  the  Belts  presented  by  the  latter,  each  of  them 
furnished  in  turn  and  contributed  equally  to  that  expense,  and 
as  the  Indians  are  very  particular  in  exhibiting  the  share  they 
possess  in  these  presents,  at  the  end  of  each  speech,  the  orator 
is  careful,  when  handing  the  Belt,  to  cry  out  the  name  of  the 
Canton,  or  Nation,  which  has  furnished  it. 

Chapter  19 

Council  at  Onondaga.  Six  Nations  neutral,  but  Mississagas  hostile  to  them. 
Peace  with  the  Cherokees.  Easton  council.  Teedyuscung.  German  Flats 
destroyed.  Abercrombie  defeated.  Land  dispute  settled  at  Easton.  Teed- 
yuscung reproved.  Council  at  ("anajoharic.  Iroquois  take  the  war  belts. 
Canadian  Indians  abandon  the  French.  Forts  built.  Niagara  taken.  Assen- 
sing  council.  Montreal  taken.  Iroquois  present.  Religion  and  education. 
Prisoners  released.  Plans  for  schools.  Murders  at  Kanestio. 
A   council  was  held  at  Onondaga  in   the  spring  of   1757,  and 

the   Onondagas,   Cayugas   and    Senecas  resolved   to   be   neutral. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  3II 

The  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  did  not  declare  themselves,  but 
were  much  affected  by  the  destruction  of  the  forts  at  the  portage. 
Half  the  Oneidas  favored  the  French. 

June  10  some  Senecas  and  Onondagas  came  to  Fort  Johnson, 
followed  by  Cayugas  and  Mohawks.  The  Senecas  showed  a 
great  belt  of  invitation,  30  rows  wide,  which  they  would  send  to 
other  nations,  and  also  a  French  war  belt.  Another  was  sent  to 
the  Delawares  and  referred  to  them.  They  told  the  Delawares 
they  had  buried  the  hatchet  deep.  The  Six  Nations  had  not 
used  the  ax  given  them  against  the  French  last  winter,  but  at 
their  council  at  Onondaga  had  resolved  to  hold  fast  the  English 
covenant  chain.  They  were  so  weak  that  their  aid  ought  not  to 
be  expected.  Johnson  was  surprised  that  they  were  now  hostile 
to  the  Mississagas.  The  Onondaga  speaker  retorted  the  charge 
of  indifference  on  the  English  as  in  De  Nonville's,  Frontenac's 
and  other  invasions.  They  heard  that  the  Mississagas  threatened 
revenge  on  them  for  some  killed  at  Oswego,  but  the  Onondagas 
would  not  commence  war.  Many  belts  had  arrived  at  Onon- 
daga, and  there  would  be  a  general  council  in  July.  The  Oqua- 
gas,  mostly  Iroquois,  were  on  the  English  side. 

Three  Cherokee  chiefs  came  to  Fort  Johnson  July  31,  and  had 
a  conference  with  Johnson  and  some  Senecas,  Cayugas  and 
Oneidas.     They  were  condoled  as  usual  and  replied : 

Perhaps  you  will  expect  a  formal  answer  upon  this  ceremony 
of  condolence.  Brethren,  we  are  warriors,  and  do  not  understand 
these  matters,  and  hope  you  will  excuse  us.  All  we  can  say  is, 
that  we  are  glad  to  shake  you  by  the  hand,  and  by  this  string 
of  wampum  remove  all  trouble  and  disquiet  from  your  breast. 

They  would  direct  their  arms  against  the  French  fort  on  the 
Ohio,  and  in  them  they  might  see  all  the  Cherokee  nation.  In 
September  a  Seneca  chief,  named  the  Belt,  thanked  Johnson  for 
the  Cherokees,  and  another  Seneca  chief  spoke  for  them.  They 
had  begun  with  a  small  hatchet,  but  hoped  soon  to  have  a  larger. 
An  Oneida  chief  spoke  for  the  Six  Nations.  They  would  invite 
Cherokee  deputies  to  Fort  Johnson,  and  their  young  men  should 
be  warned  not  to  go  on  the  warpath  toward  their  country, 


312  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Sep.  19  their  message  was  formally  delivered  to  the  four  Cher- 
okees, who  were  seated  in  four  chairs.  Johnson  lighted  the  calu- 
met, took  a  whiff  or  two  and  passed  it  to  the  Cherokees,  who  did 
the  same.  The  gentlemen  present  smoked  and  then  the  Iroquois 
who  were  there.  The  tobacco  from  whence  it  was  filled  was 
then  put  in  a  bag  to  be  carried  home  by  the  Cherokees  with  the 
calumet.  The  Belt,  a  Seneca  chief,  then  delivered  the  message 
of  the  Six  Nations,  with  a  very  large  white  belt  furnished  by 
Johnson.  Seneca  George  would  return  with  them  as  far  as 
Philadelphia  and  farther  if  his  shoes  held  out. 

Not  being  relieved  by  General  Webb,  Fort  William  Henry 
surrendered  Aug.  29,  after  a  six  days'  siege,  and  the  Indians 
robbed  and  stripped  many  after  the  capitulation,  even  killing 
some.  Montcalm  had  363  Canadian  Iroquois  with  him  at  this 
time,  and  this  loss  cooled  the  zeal  of  the  Six  Nations  for  the 
English.  Though  neutrality  was  promised,  some  Senecas  and 
Cayugas  shared  in  hostilities  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Governor  de 
Vaudreuil  reported  that  he  had  20  parties  of  Senecas  and  Cay- 
ugas in  the  field  against  the  Catawbas  and  English.  There  were 
always  some  whom  the  chiefs  could  not  control. 

A  Mohawk  chief,  who  went  with  George  Croghan  to  Penn- 
sylvania in  June,  brightened  the  friendly  chain  between  the  Cher- 
okees and  Six  Nations  in  the  presence  of  Col.  George  Washing- 
ton. Both  would  hold  to  the  English,  and  three  Cherokees  were 
deputed  to  go  to  the  Six  Nations.  On  their  way  they  stopped 
at  Easton,  where  there  was  a  council  with  the  Delawares  and 
Senecas,  and  were  told  that  the  grand  council,  which  sat  for  two 
months  at  Onondaga,  had  broken  up,  having  determined  to  hold 
to  the  English.  The  Delawares  and  Shawnees  in  Ohio  had 
trouble  with  the  French  and  were  also  likely  to  take  the  same  side. 

The  Easton  council  was  held  in  July  and  August.  In  the  latter 
month  Teedyuscung  concluded  a  peace  on  behalf  of  10  nations. 
He  said  he  was  formerly  represented  as  a  woman  by  his  uncles, 
the  Six  Nations,  but  they  gave  him  a  good  pipe  and  good  tobacco, 
and  he  gave  these  to  the  English.  In  response,  Governor  Morris 
gave  him  a  very  large  belt  with  significant  letters  and  figures. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  313 

The  treaty  required  the  approval  of  the  Six  Nations.  At  the  end 
of  the  council  there  was  a  grand  dinner  for  all  present,  peace  was 
formally  proclaimed  and  interpreted  to  the  Indians,  and  salutes 
were  fired.  There  were  bonfires  and  dances,  with  supplementary 
conferences.     Teedyuscung  said : 

I  was  styled  by  my  uncles  the  Six  Nations,  a  woman,  in  former 
years,  and  had  no  hatchet  in  'my  hand,  but  a  pestle  or  homminy 
pounder.  As  I  had  no  tomahawk,  and  my  uncles  were  always 
styled  men,  and  had  tomahawks  in  their  hands,  they  gave  me  a 
tomahawk,  and  appointed  and  authorized  me  to  make  peace 
with  a  tomahawk  in  my  hand,  I  take  that  tomahawk,  and  turn 
the  edge  of  it  against  your  enemies  the  French. 

A  curious  effect  of  scalp  bounties,  even  on  women,  is  seen  in 

the  petition  of  Margery  Mitchell,  Oct.  26,   1757: 

I  was  some  time  ago  in  Philada.,  in  Expectation  of  recg  a 
reward  from  the  Com"  for  an  Indian  Scalp,  but  was  quite  dis- 
appointed ;  it  ill  suited  me  at  the  time  to  take  so  fatiguing  & 
expensive  a  Journey,  one  might  think  Common  humanity  would 
induce  the  Gentlemen  to  allow  me  some  small  matter  on  that 
occasion. 

German  Flats  was  destroyed  in  November  1757.  The  people 
had  been  warned  by  the  Oneidas,  but  felt  secure.  It  was  attacked 
by  300  French  and  Indians  under  M.  de  Belletre.  A  few  Onon- 
dagas  joined  him  at  Famine  river,  and  he  sent  a  message  to 
Oneida  Castle  by  four  influential  Indians,  six  Oneidas  joining 
him'.  The  Palatine  settlement  was  protected  by  five  small  forts, 
all  of  which  were  destroyed.  None  of  the  French  were  killed, 
but  40  colonists  perished,  150  were  made  prisoners  and  60  houses 
were  burned.     In  another  fort  were  350  men,  not  a  mile  away. 

The  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  were  asked  why  they  had  not 
given  the  alarm ;  on  which  they  showed  that  they  had  done  so, 
but  their  advice  was  not  heeded.  The  Germans  said  the  same. 
It  was  the  castle  at  Oneida  lake  and  not  the  upper  one  to  which 
the  French  sent  word.     The  latter  was  not  to  be  told. 

In  the  spring  of  1758  the  French  commander  at  Fort  Duquesne 
made  unfriendly  comments  on  the  Six  Nations  and  sent  Wyandot 
spies  to  Onondaga,  who  told  their  errand  and  wished  a  trading 
post  might  be  built  there.     The  Seneca  chief,  John  Hudson,  or 


314  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Eyendeegen,  was  present  at  a  council  with  the  Munseys  in  Phila- 
delphia Aug.  4.  He  said  they  could  not  hold  treaties,  being 
women,  and  conducted  the  business  for  them. 

July  7,  1758,  Abercrombie  was  defeated  at  Ticonderoga  with 
heavy  loss.  The  Iroquois  despised  him  from  the  first  and  few 
Indians  shared  in  the  fight  on  either  side.  Some  success  the 
English  now  had.  In  August  Colonel  Bradstreet  took  Fort  Fron- 
tenac,  and  Oswego  was  reoccupied.  In  November  Fort  Du- 
quesne  was  evacuated  on  the  approach  of  General  Forbes.  The 
Indians  of  Canada  were  displeased  with  Montcalm's  treatment  of 
them  at  Ticonderoga,  and  the  Six  Nations  took  note  of  this. 

The  fourth  Easton  council  met  Oct.  8,  1758,  and  the  Iroquois, 
Minisinks  and  Delawares  came.  The  assembly  was  large  and 
the  ancient  rites  scrupulously  observed.  Three  old  land  disputes 
were  to  be  settled;  the  Iroquois  sale  of  1754,  the  Walking  Pur- 
chase, and  the  claims  of  the  Minisinks  in  New  Jersey.  The  last 
was  speedily  adjusted,  and  the  lands  west  of  the  mountains  were 
deeded  back  to  the  Iroquois.  On  the  Walking  Purchase,  Teedy- 
uscung's  official  character  came  in  question,  and  his  pride  had  a 
blow  in  a  private  council.  A  Mohawk  chief  said:  "Who  made 
Teedyuscung  the  chief  of  the  nations?  If  he  be  such  a  great  man 
we  desire  to  know  who  made  him  so."  A  Seneca  chief  said : 
"  We  do  not  know  who  made  Teedyuscung  this  great  man  over 
Ten  Nations,  and  I  want  to  know  who  made  him  so."  An  Onon- 
daga chief  added,  "  I  never  heard  before  now  that  Teedyuscung 
was  such  a  great  man,  and  much  less  can  I  tell  who  made  him 
so.  No  such  thing  was  ever  said  in  our  towns."  An  Oneida 
spoke  for  the  Oneidas,  Tuscaroras,  Nanticokes  and  Conoys :  "  I 
now  tell  you  none  of  us  know  who  has  made  Teedyuscung  such 
a  great  man.  Perhaps  the  French  have,  or  perhaps  you  have,  or 
some  among  yon,  as  you  have  different  governments  and  are 
different  people.  We  for  our  part  entirely  disown  that  he  has 
any  authority  over  US,  and  we  desire  to  know  from  whence  he 
derives  his  authority." 

In  that  chief's  presence,  nex1  day,  the  governors  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  New  Jersey  explained  that  he  only  claimed  to  be  king 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  315 

over  five  Delaware  nations  and  was  but  the  messenger  of  the 
Six  Nations,  of  whom  he  always  spoke  as  his  uncles  and  super- 
iors. The  storm  was  averted,  but  the  offense  was  not  forgotten. 
He  had  also  proposed  a  sale  of  lands  about  Shamokin,  Wyoming 
etc.  The  Iroquois  chiefs  replied  :  "  We  have  no  power  to  convey 
Lands  to  any  one,  but  will  take  your  Request  to  the  great  Coun- 
cil Fire  for  their  Sentiments,  as  we  never  convey  or  sell  Lands 
before  it  be  agreed  in  the  great  Council  of  the  United  Nations." 
It  is  readily  seen  that  this  was  but  a  convenient  excuse. 

In  April  1759  Johnson  held  a  council  at  the  Canajoharie  castle, 
stopping  at  Brant's  house,  where  the  Bunt,  other  Onondaga  and 
some  Cayuga  chiefs  waited  on  him,  some  Cayugas,  Senecas,  Nan- 
ticokes  and  Shawnees  coming  later.  While  they  were  waiting 
for  the  Oneidas,  Tuscaroras  and*  Geneseo  Senecas,  their  arms 
were  repaired,  and  he  sent  food  to  some  on  the  way. 

When  the  council  opened,  Sir  William,  with  the  Mohawks, 
Onondagas  and  Senecas,  condoled  the  death  of  some  of  their 
people  since  leaving  home,  and  the  usual  general  condolence  fol- 
lowed. He  spoke  of  a  murder  by  a  Cayuga,  and  an  Oneida  chief 
gave  five  white  prisoners  to  him.  Tuscarora  spies  told  what  they 
had  seen  in  Canada,  where  some  Oswegatchie  Indians  wished  to 
return  to  Onondaga.  Some  western  Indians  had  sent  a  belt  to 
the  Six  Nations,  as  they  desired  to  pass  through  their  country 
to  talk  with  Johnson.  A  sachem  of  each  of  the  Six  Nations 
would  come  with  them  that  year,  and  the  Geneseo  chiefs  waited 
to  conduct  them. 

Governor  de  Vaudreuil  had  told  the  Oneidas  that  the  English, 
having  built  a  fort  at  their  portage,  were  about  to  erect  one  at 
each  end  of  Oneida  lake  and  another  at  the  falls  of  the  Onon- 
daga (Oswego)  river.  However  he  got  his  news,  this  proved 
correct.  Though  these  would  be  strong,  he  said,  the  one  at 
Oswego  would  be  stronger ;  and  the  English  would  then  destroy 
the  Five  Nations.  He  gave  them  a  large  hatchet  belt  of  6000 
beads.  The  Nanticokes  had  also  been  sent  for  to  Onondaga, 
receiving  a  sharp  French  hatchet  with  a  similar  message,  but  they 
returned  this  by  advice  of  the  Oneidas. 


3J6  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

All  agreed  to  go  against  the  French  as  an  atonement  for  the 
murder.  This  would  be  an  effective  plaster  for  the  wound.  The 
Onondagas  then  made  a  feast  of  a  roasted  ox,  presented  by  John- 
son, and  the  war  dance  was  shared  by  some  of  every  nation. 
From  the  Susquehanna  50  more  Indians  arrived.  He  told  them 
that  at  the  Easton  treaty  the  Pennsylvania  people  gave  up  all 
the  land  claimed  on  the  Ohio,  which  had  been  sold  them  in  1754. 
The  deed  of  surrender  would  be  kept  in  the  council  house  at 
Onondaga. 

After  telling  them  of  General  Amherst's  appointment,  Sir  Wil- 
liam threw  the  war  belt,  which  was  taken  up  by  a  Mohawk,  who 
danced  with  it,  followed  by  others.  A  few  warriors  had  gone 
with  Johnson  before;  all  would  go  now.  Two  oxen  were  boiled 
in  five  large  kettles  and  laid  out  in  large  pieces  in  Indian  style, 
the  chiefs  and  warriors  being  seated  in  two  lines  opposite  the 
fires  in  the  center. 

The  Old  Belt,  a  great  Seneca  chief,  said  that  the  Geneseo 
Indians  heartily  joined  the  English,  and  that  26  of  their  warriors 
would  follow  Johnson  to  war  before  they  went  home.  They 
now  gave  up  Fort  Niagara  to  be  destroyed.  He  then  began  the 
war  dance,  which  was  kept  up  all  night  by  others.  Three  chiefs 
of  each  nation  came  to  Johnson  to  ask  him  to  send  an  army  at 
once  against  Niagara.  "  The  sooner  the  thing  is  done  the  bet- 
ter," they  said,  and  gave  a  belt  with  the  figure  of  Niagara  at  one 
end  and  his  name  at  the  other. 

The  Oswegatchies  sent  him  a  message,  thanking  him  and  say- 
ing they  would  keep  out  of  the  way  of  the  English  and  not  join 
the  French.  They  wished  to  return  to  their  native  land,  and 
their  priest  sent  a  message  of  peace,  having  no  interest  in  the  war. 
His  town  was  but  a  religious  school.  The  Caughnawagas  and 
others  would  act  no  more  with  the  French.  Johnson  was  pleased 
and  promised  to  equip  the  Indians  and  provide  for  their  families. 

That  year  the  Royal  Blockhouse  was  built  at  the  head  of 
Oneida  lake  and  Fori  Brewerton  at  the  foot.  A- fort  was  also 
built  at  Oswego  Falls  on  the  cast  side.  Johnson  and  Prideaux 
soon  left  for  Niagara,  embarking  on  Oneida  lake  June  21,  passing 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  $1? 

Fort  Brewerton  June  23  and  encamping  at  Three  River  Point. 
They  were  at  Oswego  Falls  June  24  to  27,  and  left  Oswego  July 
1.  The  French  tried  to  surprise  Oswego  after  they  left,  but  were 
repulsed.  The  English  had  3100  troops  and  Indians,  who  landed 
at  Niagara  July  8.  General  Prideaux  was  killed  on  the  20th  and 
Johnson  took  command.  The  fort  surrendered  July  25,  and  the 
army  returned  to  Oswego.  About  one  third  were  Indians.  About 
the  same  time  General  Amherst  took  Ticonderoga  and  soon  after 
Crown  Point;    while  Quebec  surrendered  Sep.  18. 

Some  unimportant  conferences  were  held  at  Pittsburg  that  year, 
in  which  Iroquois  chiefs  took  part.  There  was  also  "  a  great 
Meeting  of  Indians  at  Assensing,  on  the  Cayuga  Branch  of  the 
Sasquehannah,"  in  the  interests  of  peace.  This  was  a  Munsey 
town  in  New  York,  recently  settled  there.  This  council  was 
"  preparatory  to  a  General  Council,  which  the  Western  Indians 
proposed  to  hold  in  the  month  of  April  over  the  Ohio." 

In  the  summer  of  1760  Amherst  collected  his  forces  at  Oswego 
and  descended  to  Montreal,  which  soon  surrendered.  The  only 
opposition  was  at  Fort  Levis,  a  little  below  the  present  city  of 
Ogdensburg,  occupied  by  a  small  force  under  M.  de  Pouchot. 
He  was  called  Sategariouaen,  In  the  Midst  of  Good  Affairs.  The 
Indians  left  Oswegatchie  the  year  before,  settling  on  the  Isle 
Picquet.  Many  now  went  to  Montreal  and  elsewhere,  and  the 
rest  refused  to  aid  the  French.  There  were  places  of  interest  in 
the  vicinity.  Pointe  aux  Iroquoise,  locally  called  Point  Rocka- 
way,  was  a  place  where  that  people  always  stopped  in  going  up 
or  down.  Toniata,  the  place  of  the  eel  fishery,  now  Grenadier 
island,  was  a  noted  resort  from  the  earliest  times.  St  Regis,  on 
the  St  Lawrence  and  intersected  by  the  boundary  line,  was  a 
mission  settlement  and  is  still  a  reservation.  It  is  worthy  of  note 
that  in  this  last  engagement  of  this  great  war,  two  vessels  engaged 
were  called  after  Iroquois  nations.  One  was  the  Onondaga, 
called  the  Seneca  by  Pouchot,  and  the  Mohawk,  called  Oneida 
by  him. 

A  list  has  been  given  of  1330  Indians  who  promised  to  go  with 
Johnson  at  this  time.    Among  these  were  284  Cayugas,  57  Tusca- 


3l8  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

roras,  158  Mohawks,  203  Onondagas,  60  Oneidas,  126  Senecas, 
and  15  Oswegatchies.     But  706  actually  embarked. 

In  1760  Archbishop  Seeker  spoke  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Barclay 
as  the  son  of  a  missionary  to  the  Indians  of  New  York,  saying 
that  he  was  appointed  by  the  S.  P.  G.  a  Mohawk  catechist  in 
1735,  ordained  a  priest  in  1737  and  settled  as  missionary  there, 
learning  the  Mohawk  tongue  and  preaching  to  them  successfully. 
He  was  said  to  have  formed  a  congregation  of  500,  with  61  wor- 
thy communicants,  continuing  there  till  1745.  when  the  attacks 
of  the  French  Indians  obliged  him  to  leave. 

Peace  having  come,  the  Honorable  Scotch  Commissioners,  in 
and  near  Boston,  in  1761  conceived  the  idea  of  educating  Indian 
youths  from  a  distance.  They  sent  an  Indian,  David  Fowler, 
who  was  going  on  a  mission  to  the  Oneidas,  to  select  some,  and 
he  brought  three  young  Mohawks,  one  of  whom  was  Joseph 
Brant.  In  November  Samuel  Kirkland,  afterward  the  noted 
missionary,  visited  Johnson,  who  approved  his  plan  of  learning 
the   Mohawk   language. 

There  was  a  council  at  Easton  Aug.  3,  1761,  with  Onondagas, 
Oneidas,  Cayugas  and  their  allies,  Seneca  George  of  Otsiningo 
being  the  principal  speaker.  Conrad  Weiser  was  dead,  and  they 
chose  his  son  Samuel  as  his  successor.  A  Conoy  chief,  called 
Last  Night,  said : 

I  would  acquaint  You  that  the  Chief  of  the  Mohickons  &  Opies 
have  settled  with  the  Six  Nations  at  a  place  called  Chenango, 
where  you  may  always  find  them  if  yon  should  have  occasion  to 
speak  to  them. 

Tn  1762  there  were  meetings  about  surrendering  prisoners. 
Some  of  the  Iroquois  had  been  hostile  to  the  English  in  the  Dela 
ware  war,  but  at  last  a  full  treaty  of  peace  was  made.  There 
.1  conference  a1  Philadelphia  Mar.  30,  with  _m  Cayugas,  who 
reported  a  council  held  at  Onondaga  about  these  prisoners,  but 
the  Senecas  were  dilatory.  A  general  council  met  at  Lancaster 
in  August,  and  17  English  prisoners  were  returned.  There  would 
have  been  more-,  but  some  bad  been  claimed  and  given  up  on  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  319 

road.  A  few,  like  Mary  Jemison  and  others,  would  not  return. 
Some  cases  were  hard.  The  noted  Oneida  chief,  Thomas  King, 
said : 


I  brought  a  Girl  to  Easton,  and  she  run  away;  when  I  came 
home  I  found  her  there.  Bless  me !  says  I,  there  is  my  Wife. 
I  was  sorry  that  I  had  delivered  her,  but  to  my  surprize  I  found 
her  at  home.  You  know  it  is  hard  to  part  with  a  Wife.  I  have 
brought  you  an  English  prisoner,  who  I  love  as  my  own  Wife. 
I  have  a  young  Child  by  her.  You  know  it  is  very  hard  for  a 
man  to  part  with  his  Wife.  I  have  delivered  her,  therefore  take 
care  of  her,  and  keep  her  safe,  that  she  'don't  make  her  escape. 

At  this  council  the  Six  Nations  said  they  had  permitted  a  fort 
at  Shamokin,  which  was  to  be  destroyed  in  due  time,  and  they 
now  wished  it  removed.  It  was  on  their  warpath  and  might  make 
trouble  between  them  and  the  soldiers. 

That  year  Edward  Johnson,  schoolmaster  at  the  Tuscarora 
castle,  made  complaints.  It  was  hard  teaching  such  scholars. 
The  Rev.  Mr  Wheelock  wrote  that  a  legacy  of  £750  from  Sir 
Peter  Warren  had  been  appropriated  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  Massachusetts  for  the  support  and  education  of  six  youths  of 
the  Six  Nations,  as  he  had  desired.  He  had  the  youths  and  was 
teaching  them,  but  the  commissioners  thought  this  was  not  the 
best  way.  They  thought  it  better  to  have  English  schools  among 
them,  and  he  wanted  Johnson's  opinion.  He  replied  that  Whee- 
lock's  plan  was  best,  as  the  others  would  find  if  they  tried  theirs. 
In  October  of  that  year  Johnson  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Mr  Barclay 
about  a  new  edition  of  the  Mohawk  prayer  book,  sending  the  old 
one  with  some  additional  translations. 

Guy  Johnson  had  a  conference  at  Onondaga  in  December  about 
the  murder  of  two  Englishmen  by  two  Indians  in  the  .Seneca 
country.  Nov.  30,  he  came  to  the  upper  Oneida  Castle  and  the 
next  day  to  Canowaroghere,  (present  Oneida  Castle),  a  new  vil- 
lage of  the  Oneidas.  Dec.  2  he  was  at  the  Tuscarora  village  of 
Canaseraga.  Dec.  4  he  arrived  at  Onondaga  and  was  welcomed 
by  Otschiniata,  or  the  Bunt.  He  was  told  that  Kanisteo  was  a 
village  of  lawless  stragglers,  but  the  Indians  would  send  there 
for  the  murderers. 


320  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Chapter  20 

Connecticut  people  at  Wyoming.  Indians  wish  forts  destroyed.  Western 
scalp  belt.  Pontiac's  war.  Forts  taken.  Hostile  Senecas.  Indian  complaints. 
Soldiers  destroyed  near  Niagara.  Iroquois  land  claims.  Mohawk  prayer 
book.  Report  on  Indians.  Six  Nations  join  English  against  Ottawas. 
Indians  on  the  Susquehanna.  Conestogas  killed.  Towns  burned  on  the 
Chemung.  Peace  with  the  Senecas.  Niagara  council.  Education.  Kirkland. 
Council  with  Delawares.     English  occupy  Illinois.     Pontiac  at  Oswego. 

In  May  1763  four  Iroquois  deputies  came  to  Johnson's  house, 
having  a  message  and  several  belts  for  the  governor  of  Connec- 
ticut, desiring  him  to  stop  his  people  from  settling  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna. There  had  been  trouble  there  before.  They  wanted 
some  Mohawks  to  go  with  them  and  a  deputy  from  Sir  William 
to  care  for  them  on  the  road  and  prevent  imposition.  Lieutenant 
Johnson  and  an  interpreter  were  sent. 

May  21  there  arrived  139  sachems  and  warriors,  and  the  desired 
council  was  opened  with  the  usual  ceremonies  and  belts.  On  the 
26th  45  Geneseos  came ;  and  then  the  Onondaga  speaker  spoke 
for  all,  repeating  the  old  agreements  and  relating  later  history. 
Now  that  the  French  were  dead,  the  building  of  more  forts  made 
them  uneasy.  They  feared  that  western  traders  might  have 
trouble  and  advised  that  trade  should  be  limited  to  Oswego, 
Niagara  and  Detroit.  The  Senecas  had  been  persuaded  to 
arrange  about  the  murder.  The  Senecas  then  spoke,  saying  they 
would  not  rest  till  they  brought  a  plaster  for  that  wound. 

After  the  council  an  Indian  came  to  say  that  the  French  had 
ascended  the  Mississippi  and  invested  some  English  forts  west- 
ward. A  large  belt,  with  English  scalps,  had  been  sent  by  them 
to  the  Six  Nations,  asking  their  aid,  which  was  refused.  The 
Indians  were  positive,  but  Johnson  thought  it  an  old  belt,  sending 
to  Onondaga  and  elsewhere  to  learn  more.  In  June  the  Onon- 
dagas  sent  wampum  to  the  Indians  on  the  Susquehanna,  saying: 

This  String  of  Wampum  comes  to  let  you  know  that  the  French 
that  was  killed  is  come  alive  again,  and  that  there  is  seven  of 
your  out  Posts  taken  and  all  the  People  killed  by  the  French, 
and  a  number  of  wild   Indians  that  have  tails  like  Bears. 

An  express  arrived  in  June  to  report  the  investment  of  Detroit 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  32 1 

for  36  days,  by  from  500  to  1600  Ottawas,  Ojibwas  and  Dela- 
wares.  They  feared  the  advancing  power  of  the  English;  but 
Johnson  thought  he  had  removed  all  difficulties  at  his  Detroit 
conference  in  1761.  Dissatisfaction  increased  because  presents 
were  not  continued  to  western  Indians.  The  Mississagas  and 
Ojibwas  now  blockaded  Detroit  and  totally  defeated  100  men 
sent  to  its  relief.  The  Six  Nations  said  they  rejected  this  wes- 
tern alliance,  but  he  feared  the  Senecas  might  fall  away.  The 
Mohawks  had  not  been  well  used,  yet  were  doing  much  for  the 
English.  Though  few,  they  were  still  considered  the  head  of  the 
Six  Nations  by  the  rest.  The  Onondagas  also  showed  a  strong 
attachment.  He  ordered  an  interpreter  to  stay  at  Oswego  to 
save  trouble  with  Indians  there. 

The  western  Indians  captured  a  fort  at  Venango  Pa.,  and  a 
blockhouse  at  Presque  Isle.  The  post  at  Leboeuff  was  aban- 
doned. Onondaga  messengers  said  that  Venango  was  treach- 
erously taken  by  some  Geneseo  Indians  living  near  by.  At  a 
meeting  at  Onondaga  the  Senecas  spoke  with  three  belts,  saying 
they  had  loosed  their  warriors  against  the  English  and  wished 
the  rest  to  do  the  same.  This  was  rejected  by  all ;  and  the 
Onondagas  sent  a  large  belt  to  the  Senecas,  desiring  them  to 
stop  at  once.  All  but  the  Senecas  agreed  to  attend  a  council 
at  German  Flats.  This  was  afterward  changed  to  Johnson  Hall 
on  account  of  Johnson's  indisposition. 

Since  the  conquest  of  Canada  the  western  nations  and  Iro- 
quois had  warred  with  the  Cherokees,  and  parties  often  passed 
through  the  western  parts  of  the  colonies,  keeping  up  a  warlike 
spirit.  The  Geneseo  Senecas,  the  hostile  party,  now  sent  bands 
to  Irondequoit  and  Sodus  to  waylay  passing  boats.  Johnson 
advised  an  expedition  against  the  Ohio  Indians,  the  Senecas, 
Delawares  and  Shawnees,  the  real  authors  of  the  present  trouble. 
There  was  an  engagement  in  August  near  Fort  Pitt,  between 
Colonel  Bouquet  and  a  large  Indian  force,  the  latter  being 
defeated.  The  three  murderers,  authors  of  the  trouble,  were 
reported  killed.  That  the  Indians  had  serious  grounds  for  com- 
plaint is  not  doubted,  but  some  were  due  to  themselves  and  of 


322  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

small  weight.      Some  complained  that  Johnson  gave  them  too 
little  powder.     He  said: 

The  Indians  are  remarkably  the  very  worst  managers  of  pow- 
der on  every  occasion,  and  whilst  they  have  any  ammunition 
are  continually  discharging  their  pieces  at  every  little  object, 
be  their  necessities  ever  so  great.  Every  hunter  consumes  about 
8  lbs.  of  powder,  and  20  lbs.  of  lead  at  his  two  hunting  seasons 
in  the  year,  and  without  that  quantity  a  good  hunter  seldom 
chooses  to  go  out. 

The  council  met  Sep.  14,  with  326  Iroquois  present,  and  that 
day  246  more  came  from  the  Susquehanna  as  low  as  Owego,  to 
say  they  would  remain  friends.  Some  Senecas  also  came  from 
the  friendly  towns  east  of  Geneseo.  They  wished  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  the  English,  not  having  struck  the  Virginia  people.  It 
was  more  likely  the  Shawnees.  Messengers  had  not  returned 
from  the  two  towns  near  the  Genesee  river.  The  Caughnawagas 
sent  a  belt  to  the  Senecas,  saying  that,  if  they  forgot  the  old 
covenant,  they  and  the  Canada  Indians  would  quarrel  with  them. 
The  friendly  Ottawas  near  Michilimackinac  restored  some  Eng- 
lish prisoners. 

Teyawarunte,  the  Onondaga  speaker,  took  the  large  covenant 
belt  of  1754,  repeated  the  old  engagements  made  thereon,  and  on 
behalf  of  18  nations  brightened  and  renewed  them.  After  the 
Canadian  conquest  Johnson  had  buried  the  hatchet  under  a  large 
pine  tree,  in  a  stream  of  water,  that  it  might  no  more  be  found. 
He  now  gave  them  a  good  English  ax  to  cut  oft"  all  bad  links 
from  the  covenant  chain. 

Sep.  25  he  had  an  express,  reporting  the  tragedy  at  the  Devil's 
Hole,  Niagara,  where  the  Senecas  destroyed  one  party  and 
defeated  two  companies  sent  to  its  relief.  The  surprise  was  com- 
plete, five  officers  and  60  privates  being  killed.  Many  were 
thrown  over  the  precipice. 

In  October  Johnson  thus  set  forth  the  Iroquois  land  claims  to 
the  Lords  of  Trade: 

As  Original  proprietors,  this  Confederacy  claim  the  Country  of 
their  residence,  south  of  Lake  Ontario  to  the  great  Ridge  of  the 
Blew  Mountains,  with  all  the  Western  part  of  the  province  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  323 

New  York  towards  Hudsons  River,  west  of  the  Caats  Kill,  thence 
to  Lake  Champlain,  and  from  Reghioghne  a  Rock  at  the  East 
side  of  said  lake  to  Oswegatche  or  La  Gattell  on  the  River  St. 
Lawrence  (having  long  since  ceded  their  claims  North  of  said 
line  in  favour  of  the  Canada  Indians  as  Hunting  ground)  thence 
up  the  River  St.  Lawrence  and  along  the  South  side  of  Lake 
Ontario  to  Niagara. 

T11  right  of  conquest  they  claim  all  the  Country  (comprehending 
the  Ohio)  along  the  great  Ridge  of  Blew  Mountains  at  the  back 
of  Virginia,  thence  to  the  head  of  Kentucke  River,  and  down  the 
same  to  the  Ohio  above  the  Rifts,  thence  Northerly  to  the  South 
end  of  Lake  Michigan,  thence  along  the  Eastern  shore  of  said 
lake  to  Missilimackinac,  then  easterly  across  the  North  end  of 
Lake  Huron  to  the  great  Ottawa  River  (including  the  Chippawae 
or  Mississagey  Country)  and  down  the  said  River  to  the  Island 
of  Montreal.  .  .  their  claim  to  the  Ohio,  and  thence  to  the 
Lakes,  is  not  in  the  least  disputed  by  the  Shawanese,  Delawares, 
ettc,  who  never  transacted  any  Sales  of  Land  or  other  matters 
without  their  consent,  and  who  sent  Deputys  to  the  grand  Coun- 
cil at  Onondaga  on  all  important  occasions. 

Johnson  thought  the  northern  Indians  "  the  most  formidable 
of  any  uncivilized  body  of  people  in  the  world."  The  Ottawa 
confederacy  and  the  Six  Nations  looked  on  the  northern  parts 
of  North  America  as  their  sole  property,  but  the  latter  had  suf- 
fered from  land  frauds.  The  corporation  of  Albany  long  before, 
by  intoxicating  the  Indians,  unfairly  got  a  deed  of  the  Mohawk 
flats  at  P'ort  Hunter;  and  he  mentioned  other  cases  likely  to 
make  trouble.  The  great  Iroquois  grievance  was  the  chain  of 
small  forts,  made  in  1759  and  reaching  Lake  Ontario.  These 
were  Fort  Schuyler  on  the  Mohawk,  the  Royal  Blockhouse  at 
the  east  end  of  Oneida  lake,  Fort  Brewerton  and  a  fort  at  Oswego 
Palls.     They  wished  these  abandoned  according  to  promise. 

Good  interpreters  were  needed  to  prevent  misunderstandings. 
Missionaries  ought  to  live  among  them;  for,  by  their  holding 
double  cures,  the  Indians  had  very  few  services,  with  very  poor 
interpreters.  Many  Mohawks  had  become  quite  proficient,  read- 
ing the  liturgy  and  preaching  among  themselves.  To  promote 
this,  he  had  ordered  a  new  edition  of  the  Mohawk  prayer  book. 
The  first,  founded  on  the  translation  of  the  Rev.  Mr  Freeman, 
had  been  printed  in  New  York  in   1715  ;    and  the  printers  now 


324  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

found  trouble  from  the  unusual  number  of  some  letters.  A  still 
earlier  Mohawk  book  of  16  pages  was  printed  in  Boston  in  1707. 
In  education,  the  Rev.  Mr  Wheelock  reported  that  Joseph  Brant 
and  the  other  Indian  boys  were  doing  well.  He  then  had  23 
Indians  in  his  school. 

Toward  the  close  of  this  year  Johnson  made  a  tabular  state- 
ment of  these  confederacies,  with  the  names,  numbers  and  situa- 
tion of  the  nations.  Of  the  Six  Nations,  the  Mohawks,  Onon- 
dagas  and  Senecas  were  considered  the  elder  branches,  the  three 
others  being  the  younger.  The  Mohawks  had  160  men  and  two 
villages  on  their  river,  with  some  emigrants  at  Schoharie.  The 
Oneidas  had  two  villages ;  one  25  miles  from  Fort  Stanwix,  and 
the  other  12  miles  west  of  (?)  Oneida  lake,  with  emigrants  in 
several  places  toward  the  Susquehanna.  They  had  250  men. 
The  Tuscaroras  had  140  men,  with  one  village  6  miles  from  the 
first  Oneidas,  and  several  about  the  Susquehanna.  The  Onon- 
dagas  had  150  men;  one  large  village  being  6  miles  from  Onon- 
daga lake,  with  a  smaller  one  at  some  distance.  The  Cayugas 
had  200  men,  a  large  village  near  Cayuga  lake,  and  several 
thence  to  the  Susquehanna.  The  Senecas  were  1050  men,  with 
several  villages,  beginning  about  50  ( ?)  miles  from  Cayuga  and 
from  thence  to  Chenussio.  The  largest  was  about  70  miles  from 
Niagara,  with  others  thence  to  the  Ohio.  Two  eastern  villages, 
Kanadasero  and  Kanaderagey,  adhered  to  the  English  ;  the  others 
were  in  the  western  confederacy.  The  Oswegatchies  were  80 
men,  chiefly  Onondagas,  living  at  La  Galette  on  the  St  Law- 
rence. The  Nanticokes  and  others  were  southern  Indians, 
removed  to  the  Susquehanna  and  subject  to  the  Six  Nations. 
In  Canada  the  Mohawk  Caughnawagas-  were  300  men  and 
attached  to  the  English.  Others  were  mentioned.  Many  of  the 
Iroquois  had  no  fixed  residence,  and  their  numbers  could  not  be 
computed. 

In  December  the  Six  Nations  were  in  their  best  mood  and 
ready  to  join  the  English  against  the  Ottawa  confederacy,  partly 
because  the  Indians  about  Detroit  had  asked  for  peace  and 
obtained  a  truce  till  spring.   Lieutenant  Governor  Colden  thought 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  325 

it  would  still  be  wise  to  punish  the  troublesome  Senecas.  They 
had  sent  deputies  to  Johnson  with  offers  of  peace,  laying  the 
blame  on  the  Delawares  and  Shawnees.  If  matters  could  be 
arranged,  they  were  ready  to  join  the  English  and  help  subdue 
the  authors  of  the  war.  The  other  nations  seconded  their  request, 
and  Johnson  favored  pacific  measures. 

He  advised  that  each  confederacy  should  separately  guaran- 
tee free  passage  to  the  English ;  that  the  Senecas  should  give 
up  the  Niagara  portage;  that  the  French  should  be  sent  away 
from  Michilimackinac,  Miami  etc.,  and  that  the  Jesuit  missions 
should  be  abolished  for  political  reasons.  He  had  given  the  war 
belt  to  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras,  who  heartily  received  it, 
and  he  hoped  much  from  this. 

At  this  time  the  towns  on  the  Susquehanna  had  quite  a  mixed 
population.  Thus  in  September  1763  a  Nanticoke  chief  brought 
messages  to  Philadelphia  from  "  The  Oneidas,  Tuscaroras,  Dela- 
wares, and  Munseys,  living  at  Onohoquagey;  Nanticokes,  Con- 
oys,  Onondagoes,  &  Mohickons  at  Chenango;  Cayuga  &  Mun- 
sies  at  Chokenote." 

Dec.  14  six  Conestogas  were  killed  and  scalped  in  Pennsylvania 
by  a  mob  of  white  men,  and  a  larger  mob  broke  into  a  workhouse 
and  killed  14  more  Dec.  2.7.  On  this,  the  Pennsylvania  Council 
sent  140  Conestogas  to  New  York  for  safety,  but  the  authorities 
there  refused  to  receive  them  and  sent  them  back. 

Hostilities  continued.  In  February  1764  Johnson  sent  several 
Iroquois  parties,  numbering  about  200,  to  the  forks  and  branches 
of  the  Susquehanna  against  the  enemy.  The  first  party  sur- 
prised a  band  of  Delawares  Feb.  27,  at  the  main  branch  of  the 
river,  who  were  going  against  the  English.  The  whole  band  was 
taken,  and  among  the  41  prisoners  was  their  chief,  Captain  Bull, 
a  son  of  Teedyuscung  and  an  active  foe. 

Pontiac  was  still  disposed  to  be  hostile  at  Detroit.  Gen. 
Thomas  Gage  spoke  of  him  as  "  a  person  of  extra  abilities."  He 
kept  two  secretaries;  one  to  read  letters,  and  the  other  to  write 
answers,  each  being  ignorant  of  what  the  other  did. 

Out  of  the  41  Delaware  prisoners,  14  were  sent  to  New  York. 


326  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

The  rest  were  distributed  among  the  friendly  Indians  to  replace 
deceased  relatives.  Another  small  party  had  equal  success,  and 
the  alarmed  Senecas  sent  deputies  to  Johnson,  concluding  peace 
with  him  Ap.  3.  They  were  to  deliver  up  all  prisoners,  desert- 
ers, Frenchmen  and  negroes  among  them,  and  the  Indians  of 
Canisteo  who  murdered  the  traders  in  1762.  They  also  ceded  the 
whole  carrying  place  at  Niagara  to  the  English,  a  tract  14  miles 
long  by  4  wide,  and  the  English  were  to  have  free  passage 
through  the  Seneca  country. 

Ap.  1,  1764,  Captain  Montour  led  140  Iroquois  from  Oquaga 
and  found  Kanhaughton  abandoned.  It  was  the  nearest  hostile 
town  and  had  36  good  houses  of  squared  logs,  with  stone  chim- 
neys. They  burned  this  and  went  up  the  Cayuga  branch, 
destroying  another  town  of  30  good  houses,  with  four  villages. 
Then  they  went  to  Canisteo,  where  hostilities  commenced.  It 
was  the  largest  Delaware  town,  and  they  burned  60  good  houses, 
a  vast  amount  of  corn,  agricultural  implements  and  saddles. 
Horses  and  cattle  were  many  but  in  poor  condition.  The  Dela- 
wares  fled  to  the  Shawnees  and  were  pursued. 

In  August  Johnson  held  a  council  with  the  western  Indians  at 
Niagara,  nearly  all  being  represented,  with  1700  warriors  out  of 
2060  present.  Peace  was  formally  made  with  the  hostile  Senecas 
and  with  the  Hurons  of  Detroit.  Pontiac  sent  to  ask  peace.  The 
rest  said  they  were  friends  already. 

Indian  education  made  some  progress.  The  schoolmaster  at 
(  lanajoharie  said  the  Indians  would  have  their  children  taught 
but  not  chastised  by  him.  The  Rev.  Mr  Wheelock  sent  David 
Fowler  to  settle  and  teach  at  Oneida  in  1765.  The  same  year  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland  made  a  trip  to  the  Seneca  town  of  ECana- 
desaga  at  Seneca  lake.  On  the  way  lie  stopped  at  Onondaga, 
where  he  had  a  reception,  his  guide  explaining  his  mission  to 
Otschiniata,  or  the  Bunt,  of  whom  Kirkland  said: 

The  venerable  old  chief  replied,  and  spoke  like  a  Demosthenes, 
for  more  than  half  an  hour,  lie  then  took  me  by  the  hand,  and 
embraced  me,  kissed  one  cheek  and  then  the  other.  I  supposed 
I    must   return   the   compliment;   I   accordingly    kissed    his    red 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW   YORK    IROQUOIS  327 

cheeks,  not  disgusted  at  all  with  the  remains  of  the  paint  and 
grease  with  which  they  had  lately  been  besmeared.  He  gave 
me  many  blessings  while  he  held  me  by  the  hand. 

Kirkland  had  a  formal  reception  by  the  Senecas  and  was 
adopted  by  the  head  chief.  While  among  them,  he  visited 
Niagara.  In  some  places  they  treated  him  "  with  no  more 
respect  than  they  would  shew  to  a  dog." 

Johnson  had  a  council  with  900  Delawares,  Iroquois  etc.  in 
April  1765.  The  Delawares  leveled  the  graves  of  the  English 
slain,  gathering  up  the  scattered  bones,  burying  them  under  a 
large  pine  tree  and  covering  them  with  a  great  rock.  Johnson 
replied  to  them  May  2.  They  had  gone  through  the  ceremony 
of  condolence  and  taken  the  ax  out  of  the  head  of  the  English, 
but  they  were  women,  and  he  never  before  knew  that  women  car- 
ried an  ax;  their  business  being  to  pound  corn.  He  talked 
severely  to  them,  but  afterward  made  an  amicable  arrangement ; 
then  for  the  first  time  he  took  them  by  the  hand,  and  the  Six 
Nations  also  shook  hands  with  them.  At  this  time  partial 
arrangements  were  made  for  a  definite  boundary  line. 

Pontiac  was  still  busy ;  but  Johnson  thought  an  interview 
would  set  matters  right  and  held  a  council  in  July  with  the  Ohio 
Indians,  who  signed  a  peace  treaty.  The  Shawnees  also  gave  up 
four  prisoners  who  had  been  adopted  into  families,  a  thing  very 
unusual,  and  would  do  so  with  the  rest.  That  summer  Col. 
George  Croghan  set  out  for  the  Illinois.  As  he  was  descending 
the  Ohio  June  8,  some  Kickapoos  and  Maskoutins  captured  his 
party,  taking  him  to  a  village  on  the  Wabash,  where  he  was 
released  with  apologies  and  escorted  thence  to  the  Illinois.  Near 
there  he  met  Pontiac,  who  agreed  to  yield  the  French  posts, 
reserving  the  land,  and  to  go  with  him  to  Detroit,  where  Croghan 
held  a  council  with  the  western  Indians  and  dissolved  their 
league  with  the  French.  Pontiac  and  the  other  chiefs  agreed  to 
visit  Johnson  the  following  year.  In  these  councils  all  things 
were  confirmed  by  pipes  and  belts.  That  year  Illinois  was  in 
the  possession  of  the  English,  and  they  had  a  garrison  in  Fort 
Chartres. 


328  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Some  lawless  people  again  made  trouble  in  1766  by  settling 
on  land  beyond  Fort  Pitt  and  killing  Indians  there.  In  July 
Johnson  had  a  council  at  Oswego  with  Pontiac  and  chiefs  of  the 
Ottawas,  Pottawattomies,  Hurons  and  Ojibwas,  which  he  opened 
with  the  usual  ceremonies,  and  then  caused  Pontiac's  pipe  to  be 
lighted  and  passed  to  all  present  by  the  interpreter.  The  Iro- 
quois, who  were  present,  seem  to  have  used  the  calumet  less  for- 
mally than  the  southern  and  western  Indians. 

On  the  third  day  Otschiniata  came  with  some  Onondaga  war- 
riors, desiring  a  hearing.  They  had  come  back  with  a  Cherokee 
scalp  and  gave  it  to  Sir  William  to  be  disposed  of  after  they  had 
painted  the  scalp  belt  attached  to  it.  He  gave  them  pipes, 
tobacco  and  liquor,  and  they  crossed  the  river  and  danced  all 
night.  The  council  was  held  in  a  bower  prepared  for  the  pur- 
pose. Teyawarunte,  the  Onondaga  speaker,  stood  up  in  the  full 
council  afterward  and  replaced  Ganughsadega,  former  speaker  of 
the  Onondagas,  in  Johnson's  name,  as  he  had  long  ago  given  a 
large  black  belt  of  wampum  for  this  purpose.  The  scalp  was 
taken  by  Karaghiagigo,  an  Onondaga  friend  of  Sir  William. 

Pontiac  said  that  all  the  belts  that  went  northward  went  by  his 
village  and  came  from  the  Senecas.  It  would  take  long  to  gather 
them,  and  they  were  more  than  a  man  could  carry.  Only  one 
bad  belt  had  come  from  him,  and  he  now  recalled  this  from  the 
Six  Nations,  begging  them  to  return  it.  "  The  Onondaga  speaker 
lighted  a  calumet  of  peace,  which  Sir  William  left  in  their  hands 
many  years  ago  for  that  purpose,  and  handed  it  about  to  the 
Western  Indians."  He  then  addressed  them  on  a  bunch  of  wam- 
pum, exhorting  all  to  peace.  The  report  that  some  Onondagas 
had  been  killed  by  the  English  near  Fort  Pitt  was  false,  for  they 
were  now  present.  He  asked  that  a  Frenchman,  now  trading 
there  for  ginseng,  might  be  allowed  to  live  among  the  Onondagas 
and  Oneidas,  or  on  Oneida  lake.  The  Onondagas  liked  no 
troublesome  belts,  and  none  such  should  come  to  their  town  or 
council;  they  therefore  left  the  withdrawal  of  Pontiac's  belt  to 
the  Senecas,  Cayugas  and  Oneidas.  That  chief  promised  con- 
tinued friendship  and  peace. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  329 

After  his  return  west,  Pontiac  received  French  and  Spanish 
belts  to  engage  him  against  the  English,  but  told  the  Indians  he 
would  stand  fast  to  his  agreement  with  Johnson. 

Chapter  21 

More  Tuscaroras  come  north.  Royal  grant.  Boundary.  Traders.  Instruc- 
tion. Dissatisfaction.  Johnson  in  the  Onondaga  country.  Murders  of 
Indians.  Peace  between  Cherokees  and  Six  Nations.  Land  grants  settled. 
Boundary  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix.  Johnson  in  the  Iroquois  country. 
Council  at  Shamokin.  Seneca  George.  Council  at  German  Flats.  Dearth. 
Reproof  of  western  Indians.     Scioto  council. 

Some  Tuscarora  chiefs  went  to  North  Carolina  in  the  spring 
of  1766,  with  an  interpreter,  and  brought  thence  160  of  their 
people.  Some  came  the  following  winter  and  were  alarmed  at 
the  deep  snow.  They  brought  certificates  of  good  behavior  from 
the  magistrates  of  all  the  districts  through  which  they  passed, 
but  their  lives  were  in  danger  from  lawless  people,  so  that  they 
had  to  be  protected.  The  worst  place  was  Paxton  Pa.,  where 
they  were  robbed  of  several  horses,  and  they  complained  to  John- 
son. Some  stopped  for  a  time  at  Shamokin  and  Wyalusing  on 
the  Susquehanna.  That  year  Zeisberger  made  his  last  visits 
to  Onondaga  and  Cayuga,  obtaining  a  grant  of  land  for  the 
Moravian  Indians  at  and  above  Wyalusing. 

At  this  time  Johnson  applied  for  the  tract  afterward  called  the 
Royal  Grant,  north  of  the  Mohawk  and  near  Canajoharie.  He 
said  he  had  obtained  but  a  small  amount  of  Indian  land  and  had 
paid  full  value  for  all.  This  would  seem  to  dispose  of  his  "  dream- 
ing "  with  Hendrick,  even  if  this  were  not  in  itself  improbable, 
Hendrick  having  no  personal  power  to  give  or  sell  land.  That 
belonged  to  the  Council  or  individual  owners,  usually  requiring 
the  assent  of  the  three  clans.  There  is,  however,  a  legal  refer- 
ence to  the  "  dreamland  "  purchase,  as  it  was  sometimes  called. 

In  May  1767  Johnson  had  a  council  with  the  Six  Nations  at 
German  Flats,  at  the  request  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  to 
get  their  consent  to  running  the  division  line  of  these  colonies 
over  the  Allegheny  mountains.  He  effected  this.  The  Iroquois 
also  agreed  to  make  peace  with  the  Cherokees  when  their  deputies 
arrived.     He  wrote  of  several  matters  at  this  time.     Traders  with 


33°  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

the  Indians  should  be  under  stricter  regulations.  He  had  always 
relied  on  a  few  approved  chiefs  of  the  several  nations,  whom  he 
had  known  for  20  years  and  who  had  never  deceived  him.  These 
were  now  alarmed  at  the  state  of  his  health  and  they  were  also 
growing  old.  Some  of  these  nations  were  increasing,  having 
been  long  at  peace,  and  they  were  warriors,  too,  whereas  the  Eng- 
lish were  traders.  Many  of  these  traders  pushed  into  the  heart 
of  the  country,  and  this  might  lead  to  trouble.  They  wanted 
traders,  but  honest  ones,  and  these  they  could  not  always  have. 
There  was  dissatisfaction  among  them ;  and,  unless  he  could  do 
them  justice,  evil  might  follow.  The  death  of  the  principal 
Seneca  chief,  who  was  attached  to  the  English,  might  remove  a 
bar  to  "the  discontent  amongst  these  jealous  and  troublesome 
people."  To  ascertain  the  exact  condition  of  affairs,  he  would 
at  once  visit  the  Onondaga  country,  under  pretense  of  a  tour 
for  health. 

The  best  channel  for  religious  instruction  to  the  Indians,  he 
thought,  was  through  the  Six  Nations,  but  practically  there  was 
no  missionary  in  these.  The  one  at  Albany  preached  to  the  Mo- 
hawks occasionally;  but,  if  some  had  not  been  able  to  read  the 
books  given  them  by  Johnson,  in  their  language,  they  would  have 
been  almost  strangers  to  Christianity.  The  New  England  Society 
had  sent  some  young  persons,  some  of  them  in  orders,  to  Oneida 
and  Onoghquaga  and  one  to  the  Senecas,  but  these  had  little  suc- 
cess. Distinctions  in  religion  perplexed  the  Indians.  They  liked 
pomj)  and  ceremony  in  worship,  and  mistakes  had  been  made  in 
trying  to  abolish  at  once  innocent  dances,  rejoicings  at  weddings, 
etc.  Both  discretion  and  ability  were  necessary  for  successful 
missionary   work  among  them. 

Johnson  returned  from  Onondaga  in  October.  Things  did  not 
look  favorable  there.  At  a  council  the  Indians  brought  up  their 
many  grievances,  and  the  French  were  busy  among  them.  I  he 
Onondaga>  did  not  wish  to  be  hostile,  but  would  not  answer  for 
any  one,  injured  as  they  were.  Bad  belts  and  messages  were 
daily  sent  among  them.  The  Senecas  and  Mississagas  quarreled 
at  the  Niagara  portage,  and    Norman    Mac   Clod,  commissary  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  33 1 

Indian  affairs,  who  was  there,  sent  to  Castesh,  (Guastarax)  chief 
of  the  Senecas,  to  inform  him  of  this.  He  came  and  desired 
liquor-selling  stopped  for  the  time  being,  which  was  done.  He 
said  the  Senecas  would  hold  to  the  English,  but  there  were  bad 
belts  everywhere,  and  he  could  not  answer  for  all.  His  party 
then  went  off  and  became  drunk,  returning  in  a  few  days. 

Aug.  24  Mac  Clod  was  informed  of  bad  belts  passing  and  sent 
to  two  Seneca  chiefs  to  know  about  them.  They  said  the  belts 
had  not  stopped  at  their  village,  but  had  gone  to  the  Oneidas 
and  might  return.  There  were  two,  but  they  seemed  harmless. 
They  had  been  seen  at  Totieronno  at  the  head  of  Cayuga  lake. 
The  old  women  of  the  Senecas  had  stopped  their  young  men 
from  going  to  Avar.  Castesh  was  an  old  rogue  and  had  the  bad 
belt  when  he  was  at  the  Niagara  council.     It  was  very  large. 

Before  he  returned  in  October  Johnson  spent  three  weeks  at 
Oneida  lake.  There  he  met  the  Indians  at  Tuscarora  creek,  who 
"  were  greatly  affected  at  the  death  of  a  remarkable  chief  of  the 
Onondagas,"  and  he  "  was  obliged  to  perform  all  the  ceremony 
on  that  occasion.'' 

The  Cherokee  deputies  arrived  at  the  end  of  1767  and  met 
760  Iroquois  at  Johnson  Hall  Mar.  3,  1768.  All  the  latter  were 
very  discontented  and  had  nearly  turned  back  on  account  of  some 
cruel  murders  in  Pennsylvania.  A  white  man  there  had  six 
Indians  in  his  house,  who  became  drunk  and  troublesome,  and  he 
killed  them  all.  The  next  day  he  and  his  servant  went  to  a  cabin 
14  miles  away,  killed  four  more  and  burned  them  and  the  house. 
Being  arrested,  he  was  set  free  from  jail  by  the  riotous  inhabi- 
tants. The  Assembly  voted  money  to  appease  the  Indians,  but 
Johnson  at  first  had  small  hopes  of  doing  this. 

The  Cherokees  went  through  the  usual  condolence  and  buried 
the  hatchet,  but  did  not  take  it  out  of  the  heads  of  the  English. 
Johnson  reproved  them  for  this,  and  the}'  apologized  and  repaired 
the  omission  next  day.  Mar.  5  the  Six  Nations  were  long  in 
assembling;  and  because  of  this  the  Cherokees  refused  "to 
Open  their  embassy  from  a  superstitious  notion  that,  as  it  was 
noon,  the  day  was  too  far  advanced  for  a  work  of  peace,  according 


332  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

to  the  opinion  of  the  southern  nations."  The  Iroquois  had  many 
similar  ideas  of  a  suitable  time,  but  agreed  to  meet  earlier  next 
day. 

The  Cherokees  were  introduced  by  Johnson  next  morning,  and 
Oucanastota,  a  great  Cherokee  chief  who  had  been  in  England, 
"  stood  up,  ranged  all  his  belts,  calumets  of  peace,  etc.,  in  order," 
and  then  spoke.  He  had  come  from  Chotte,  at  the  forks  of  the 
Tellico  and  Little  Tennessee  rivers,  "  where  the  Wise  House, 
the  House  of  Peace  is  erected."  It  was  long  since  the  sachem 
of  Chotte  made  peace  with  the  Onondagas,  and  he  was  now  dead, 
but  they  remembered  the  talk  yet.  Oucanastota  made  eloquent 
addresses  on  n  belts  and  three  strings.  One  for  Sir  William  had 
a  calumet  and  eagle's  tail  attached. 

Next  day  the  council  met  outdoors,  that  all  the  warriors  might 
hear  the  reply  to  the  Cherokees,  who  were  addressed  as  younger 
brothers.  The  Six  Nations  had  come  to  meet  them,  after  the 
manner  of  their  "  ancestors,  whose  kettle  was  always  ready,  with 
their  packs  and  seven  men  allotted  to  each  canoe,  and  with  a  good 
stick  in  their  hands,  ready  to  chastise  evil  doers."  The  speech 
continued : 

As  we  are  your  Elder  Brothers,  and  consequently  have  more 
understanding  than  you,  we  must  tell  you  that  you  have  not 
done  thereon  as  you  ought.  You  have  not  cleared  the  road  of 
rubbish  according  to  the  form  you  ought  to  have  observed, 
neither  have  you  taken  the  hatchet  out  of  our  heads.  We  now 
take  it,  and  put  it  on  one  side. 

Mar.  8,  the  Six  Nations  and  the  Caughnawagas  being  desirous 

to  condole  the  Mohawks  on  the  death  of  a  chief  before  other 

business, 

Conoghquieson  of  Oneida,  on  behalf  of  the  three  younger 
Branches  of  the  Confederacy,  namely,  the  Oneidas,  Tuscaroras 
and  Cayugas,  went  through  the  whole  ceremony  of  condolance 
with  the  Elder  Branches,  namely  the  Mohawks,  Onondagas  and 
Cenecas,  which  clone,  the  latter,  by  the  Speaker  of  Onondaga,  in 
a  set  speech,  gave  them  thanks  for  their  Condolence,  and  for  their 
adherence  to  the  Customs  of  their  forefathers. 

A  peace  was  concluded  and  signed  between  the  Cherokees  and 

Six   Nations,  and   satisfaction  was   made   for  the   Pennsylvania 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  333 

murders.  A  small  hatchet  still  out  against  the  Cherokees  would 
be  called  back.  Etiquette  ruled  on  this  occasion,  and  Tagawarra, 
a  chief  warrior  of  the  Oneidas,  rose  to  correct  some  errors  of  the 
sachems.  Some  bones  of  the  Iroquois  and  the  Cherokees  might 
lie  along  the  road  both  were  now  to  travel.  He  said :  "  We 
therefore  now  collect  the  bones  of  both  people,  and  after  the 
manner  of  our  ancestors,  we  inter  them  in  a  deep  pit,  so  that  the 
water  shall  carry  them  away,  forever  from  our  sight." 

Johnson  took  a  severe  cold  while  attending  this  open  air  council 
and  went  to  the  seashore  for  his  health  Ap.  24,  leaving  Guy 
Johnson  in  charge  of  affairs.  The  necessary  belts  were  sent  for 
the  boundary  conference,  but  it  could  not  be  held  before  Sep- 
tember. Indian  affairs  westward  looked  bad,  and  bad  belts  had 
come  to  the  Six  Nations.  In  August,  however,  Governor  Moore 
was  able  to  settle  the  60  years  dispute  about  the  Kayaderosseras 
patent;  the  patentees  releasing  part  of  the  land  claimed  to  the 
Indians,  and  the  Indians  giving  up  the  surveyed  portions  on  the 
receipt  of  $5000.  In  an  earlier  visit  to  the  Mohawk  country, 
Governor  Moore  examined  the  carrying  place  at  Little  Falls, 
surveying  that  ground  with  a  view  to  making  a  canal  there  and 
avoiding  a  portage.  This  he  would  recommend  to  the  Assembly. 
The  carrying  places  afforded  a  considerable  revenue  to  Indians 
disposed  to  work. 

In  September  Johnson  went  to  Fort  Stanwix  for  the  boundary 
conference.  The  Indians  came  in  slowly;  but  by  Oct.  1  there 
were  805  there.  Those  of  most  consequence  had  not  come,  a 
Seneca  chief  having  died  suddenly,  whom  it  was  necessary  to 
condole  in  that  country.  This  delay  occasioned  great  expense, 
as  by  Oct.  14  there  were  930  Indians  present,  each  of  whom  ate 
more  than  two  ordinary  white  men,  and  did  not  like  to  be  stinted 
at  councils.  Worse  than  this,  there  were  private  belts  passing 
among  them  and  all  sorts  of  stories.  Those  who  had  been  most 
desirous  of  a  boundary  line  now  cared  least  for  it.  The  French 
and  Spaniards  had  given  a  formal  invitation  to  a  general  Indian 
council  at  the  Mississippi,  and  this  might  make  trouble. 


334  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Johnson  opened  the  council  at  Fort  Stanwix  Oct.  24,  nearly 
3000  Indians  being  present.  He  settled  the  boundary  question, 
conceding  the  Six  Nations'  right  to  the  land  south  to  the  Chero- 
kee river,  and  they  ceded  this  to  the  king.  The  Cherokees  never 
claimed  west  of  the  Great  mountains  or  north  of  that  river; 
but  the  Six  Nations  always  maintained  their  claim.  The  line 
followed  the  Ohio  river  up  to  Kittanning,  above  Pittsburg;  thence 
east  to  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna  and  along  this  to 
Tiadaghton  creek ;  thence  northeast  along  Burnett's  hills  to 
Awandoe  creek,  and  down  this  to  the  Susquehanna.  It  followed 
that  river  to  Owego,  and  then  ran  due  east  to  the  Delaware, 
ascending  that  stream  to  a  point  due  south  of  Tianderra  or  Una- 
dilla  creek,  and  thence  to  that  stream.  The  line  ran  nearly  north 
from  that  point  to  Canada  creek,  an  affluent  of  Wood  creek.  The 
country  north  and  east  still  belonged  to  the  Oneidas  and  Mo- 
hawks and  might  be  bought  at  any  time.  The  presents  cost 
£10,460,  7s,  3d. 

At  this  time  the  lines  between  the  Mohawks  and  Stockbridges 
were  mutually  adjusted,  and  the  latter  went  home  before  the 
council  opened.  The  Mohawks  were  styled  the  true  old  heads 
of  the  confederacy,  and  signed  the  deed  first  of  all.  The  sig- 
natures and  devices  are  each  six  in  number.  Tyorhansere  alias 
Abraham  made  a  steel  for  the  Mohawks,  Canaghquieson  a  tree 
for  the  Oneidas,  Sequarusera  a  cross  for  the  Tuscaroras,  Otsin- 
ogliiyata  alias  Hunt  a  hill  for  the  (  )nondagas,  Tegaaia  a  pipe  for 
the  Cayugas,  and  Guastrax  a  high  hill  for  the  Senecas. 

At  the  opening  of  the  council  Johnson  performed  the  usual 
ceremonies.  '  The  nations  gave  the  Yb-hah  at  the  proper  places, 
and  the  ceremony  of  condolence"  ended.  Besides  New  York, 
there  were  present  representatives  of  Pennsylvania,  Xew  Jersey 
and  Virginia.  Governor  Franklin,  of  Xew  Jersey  received  the 
name  of  Sagorighweyoghsta,  Great  Doer  of  Justice,  because  he 
had  caused  some  murderers  of  Indians  to  be  executed. 

Johnson  gave  the  covenant  chain  belt,  with  human  figures  at 

each   end.      The    Rev.    Mr    \\  hcelock   obstructed   but    did   not  pre- 
vent the  cession   of   New    York   lands.     Johnson  offered  to  have 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  335 

Fort  Ontario,  at  Oswego,  evacuated  or  put  on  the  same. footing 
with  Fort  Stanwix.  The  Indians  answered  that  it  might  stay 
and  the  others  also,  so  long  as  they  were  civilly  treated  at  them. 

The  next  year  he  went  to  Onondaga,  arriving  there  July  10, 
1769.  The  chiefs  of  that  nation  and  neighboring  villages  were 
in  great  need  of  corn  from  a  failure  of  their  crops.  Before' the 
public  council  he  held  several  private  conferences  with  chiefs  in 
their  hunting  cabins.  Returning  late  one  night,  his  canoe  upset, 
and  in  ascending  the  bank  he  hurt  his  wounded  leg.  When  a 
little  easier,  he  held  a  council.  Then  he  went  to  Cayuga  and  met 
500  Indians,  and  thence  to  the  Senecas,  where  he  met  2000  more. 
While  he  was  there,  word  came  that  some  Cherokees  were  on 
their  way  to  Onondaga  to  attend  a  general  council  in  September. 
These  chiefs  afterward  spoke  with  20  belts,  desiring  to  renew 
and  strengthen  their  alliance.  During  his  stay  with  the  Senecas 
Indians  came  from  several  nations  with  belts  of  union  etc.  At 
this  time  Johnson  reported  2000  warriors  among  the  Six  Nations. 
His  edition  of  the  Mohawk  prayer  book  was  finished  that  year, 
400  copies  being  printed,  and  few  surviving  the  war. 

There  was  a  council  at  Shamokin  Pa.  that  year,  which  illus- 
trated in  several  ways  the  effect  of  religious  teaching  on  the  Six 
Nations,  desultory  as  it  had  been  : 

Sunday,  August  20,  1769. — The  Indians  having  understood  that 
Doctor  Smith  was  to  have  Divine  Service  to  White  People  assem- 
bled at  the  Fort,  Seneca  George  sent  Notice  that  his  People  wor- 
shipped the  same  God  with  the  English,  and  would  attend  Divine 
Service,  which  they  did  accordingly,  with  great  Decency,  and 
Isaac  Still  interpreted  the  Conclusion  of  the  Discourse,  which  was 
particularly  addressed  to  them. 

The  chief's  son  had  been  shot  in  July  by  a  nephew  of  Conrad 
Weiser,  and  Frederick  Weiser  spoke  of  this  in  the  council. 

Seneca  George  was  much  affected  when  the  matter  was  brought 
up  and  said,  "  He  was  all  the  Child  I  had  ;  and  now  I  am  old, 
the  loss  of  him  hath  almost  entirely  cut  away  my  Heart,  but  I 
am  yet  pleased  my  P>rother  Weiser,  the  Son  of  my  old  Friend, 
has  taken  this  Method  to  dry  my  Tears. 


336  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

He  made  a  most  affecting  speech  expressing  his  forgiveness, 
ending  by  saying  to  all  present,  while  extending  his  arms  : 

"  Nor  have  I  any  ill-will  to  any  of  you,  my  Brethren  the  Eng- 
lish." That  manly  Spirit  of  Forgiveness  and  Reconciliation 
which  Seneca  George  showed  on  this  Occasion,  by  his  Looks, 
Gesture,  and  whole  Action,  made  some  of  those  at  the  Table  cry 
out  as  he  ran  up,  holding  out  his  hand  to  them,  "  This  is  Noble," 
for  here  his  Speech  stood  in  need  of  no  Interpretation. 

Joseph  Chew  wrote  to  Johnson  about  missionary  work  and 
settlements  among  the  Six  Nations,  and  said : 

Numbers  of  the  Saints  have  applied  to  me.  I  informed  them 
that  I  heard  the  Seneca  and  Onondaga  sachems  say  none  of 
them  should  come  amongst  them,  until  the  Oneidas  grew  better 
and  reformed  their  manners. 

In  July  1770  Johnson  had  a  great  Indian  congress  at  German 
Flats.  It  was  a  time  of  very  great  scarcity,  caterpillars  having 
devoured  the  crops,  while  in  the  Indian  country  many  fields  were 
entirely  ruined.  There  were  other  adverse  circumstances,  for 
farther  south  the  whites  still  wantonly  killed  Indians  and  made 
trouble  in  many  ways.  Some  Algonquins  came  to  this  congress 
and  told  him  that  seven  canoes  of  Ojibwas  were  at  Oswego,  on 
their  way. 

The  Bunt  and  the  Onondaga  speaker  waited  on  Sir  William 
and  told  him  that  Diaquanda,  their  head  warrior,  had  refused  to 
attend  to  business  and  had  encamped  with  another  nation.  As 
he  was  the  particular  friend  of  Johnson,  the  latter  soon  persuaded 
him  to  do  better.  During  the  treaty  2320  Indians  were  present, 
and  it  was  difficult  to  feed  all  these  in  a  time  of  dearth.  The 
Cherokees  sent  seven  deputies,  desiring  peace,  and  Johnson  urged 
this,  but  most  of  the  Iroquois  wished  for  war.  Yet  they  con- 
sented to  make  no  war  on  the  southern  Indians  unless  they  were 
troublesome.  The  Mohawks  said  they  were  now  Christians  and 
had  a  church,  but  were  neglected,  having  no  minister.  All  the 
nations  said  Yo-hah  to  the  covenant  chain,  and  the  council  broke 
up  pleasantly,  several  private  conferences  following.  That  year 
the  Rev.  John  Stuart  took  charge  of  the  Mohawk  mission  and 
was  thorough  and  successful,  living  on  the  spot. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  337 

During  the  council  the  Six  Nations  presented  the  address  they 
would  send  to  the  Piankashaws,  Kickapoos  and  other  western 
Indians.  Their  messengers  would  inform  them  of  the  peace 
between  the  Iroquois  and  the  Cherokees,  and  of  the  good  under- 
standing with  the  English.  The  Iroquois  were  surprised  at  their 
conduct  to  them  and  to  the  English  traders  going  to  the  Illinois. 
They  were  out  of  their  senses,  and  the  Six  Nations  took  them  by 
the  head,  shaking  them  so  as  to  restore  their  wits  and  taking  the 
hatchet  from  their  hands  because  they  did  mischief.  If  they 
proved  obstinate,  there  would  be  war,  and  with  war,  ruin. 

In  the  autumn  of  1770  a  great  Indian  congress  met  at  Scioto 
in  Ohio,  intended  for  a  stricter  union  among  the  Indians.  It 
ended  in  general  resolutions  for  peace  among  all,  introductory  to 
a  firm  alliance  between  the  northern  and  southern  nations  for 
some  purpose  not  made  known.  Johnson  opposed  this  council 
but  could  not  prevent  it.  His  deputies  from  the  council  at 
German  Flats  met  the  Indians  from  Scioto  at  Fort  Pitt  in  Decem- 
ber, and  summoned  them  to  reassemble  at  Scioto,  when  they 
would  communicate  the  resolutions  agreed  to  at  German  Flats 
and  on  which  they  had  over  100  belts.  He  had  great  confi- 
dence in  several  of  these  deputies  and  hoped  to  defeat  anything 
dangerous. 

In  July  1771  he  held  a  council  with  350  of  the  Six  Nations,  on 
a  report  that  they  were  stirring  up  the  Shawnees,  Delawares  and 
others  to  war  on  the  English.  They  denied  it,  but  he  gave  his 
authority,  and  this  brought  explanations.  Then  he  thought  there 
was  reason  to  distrust  only  the  Senecas  on  the  Ohio  and  at  Gene- 
seo.  The  Indians  themselves  examined  those  present  from  the 
farthest  castle,  who  said  that  any  remaining  evil  must  have  come 
from  Guastarax,  chief  of  the  Senecas,  who  was  now  under  ground 
but  had  been  a  bad  and  troublesome  man.  In  the  late  Indian 
war  he  secretly  sent  a  belt  hatchet  to  the  Shawnees  and  others, 
that  he  would  remove  the  door  of  the  Six  Nations  from  his  vil- 
lage of  Geneseo  to  Scioto  plains,  and  he  wished  them  to  help  him 
fight  his  way  there.  The  Senecas  then  disavowed  his  acts.  As 
his  cunning  was  now  well  known,  they  thought  it  likely  he  had 


338  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

sent  belts  to  the  Ohio,  an  instance  having  just  come  to  light. 
Some  of  these  belts  might  still  remain,  though  most  were  dis- 
regarded. If  any  secret  hatchet  remained  still  with  the  Ohio 
Indians,  they  desired  to  take  it  away  and  bury  it  forever. 

Chapter  22 

Indian  customs  and  language.  Mohawk  missions  and  books.  Shawnees  at 
Scioto.  Death  of  Thomas  King.  Second  Scioto  council.  Bad  belts.  Three 
notices  before  war.  Trouble  with  pioneers.  Guy  Johnson  to  be  Sir 
William's  successor.  Council  at  Johnson's.  Logan's  family  killed.  Seneca 
prisoners  released.  Death  of  Sir  William.  Condolence.  Council  with  Guy 
Johnson.  Bunt's  successor.  Kayashuta.  Union  belt.  Iroquois  emigrants. 
Religious  troubles. 

In  that  year  Johnson  gave  Arthur  Lee  an  interesting  account 
of  the  customs  and  language  of  the  Indians.  The  nearer  tribes 
had  lost  many  of  their  old  customs,  blending  some  English  with 
others,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to  trace  them  back  or  account  for 
them.  Some  farther  off  had  been  affected  by  intercourse  with 
traders,  but  retained  many  customs  whose  origin  was  forgotten. 
The  most  remote  had  most  of  their  primitive  usages,  but  could 
give  only  fabulous  accounts  of  them.  These  also  confounded 
ideas  and  ceremonies  introduced  by  the  Jesuits  with  their  own 
ancient  rites. 

The  Mohawks  were  still  considered  the  head  of  the  Six  Nations, 
though  greatly  reduced.  At  present  they  had  more  to  do  with 
the  English  than  with  their  own  brethren.  They  were  members 
of  the  Church  of  England,  most  of  them  read  and  some  could 
write  very  well.  Sometimes  they  made  a  cross  in  signing  a 
(\vv(\  ;  but,  if  it  were  of  importance,  they  made  a  steel,  used  in 
striking  tire  from  a  flint.  This  symbol  of  their  nation  they  called 
Canniah,  and  themselves  Canniungaes. 

The  (  meidas  came  next,  also  much  reduced.  Attempts  had 
been  made  to  civilize  and  convert  them,  but  most  were  in  a 
primitive  state,  witli  ancient  customs  much  decayed.  One  ^\ 
their  symbols  was  a  tree  expressing  stability,  but  their  true 
emblem  was  a  stone,  called  Ouoya,  whence  they  called  themselves 
•  in,, \uis.       The    Onondagas,    40    miles    farther,    well    versed    in 

ancient  customs,  called  themselves  People  of  the  Great  Mountain. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  339 

The  Cayugas,  40  miles  beyond,  had  a  pipe  for  their  symbol. 
The  Senecas  were  the  farthest  and  most  numerous  of  the  Iro- 
quois, with  several  towns  and  symbols,  of  which  little  could  be 
understood. 

The  sachem's  authority  was  greatest  in  the  most  distant 
nations.  Nearer  by  he  had  but  little.  Sachems  were  usually 
chosen  in  public  assemblies,  but  some  had  office  by  inheritance. 
The  chief  sachem  was  often  called  king. 

The  Indians  north  of  the  St  Lawrence,  west  of  the  Great  lakes, 
on  the  New  England  coast  and  in  Ohio,  spoke  a  language  radi- 
cally the  same  and  could  communicate ;  while  the  Six  Nations 
in  their  midst  could  not  convey  a  single  idea  to  them,  or  speak 
a  word  of  their  language  correctly.  They  had  no  letters,  but 
used  hieroglyphics,  of  which  he  gave  instances.  Red  was  a  sign 
of  war ;  castles  were  square  white  figures ;  alliances  were  shown 
by  human  figures  holding  a  belt;  a  hatchet  meant  war;  and 
their  totems  showed  their  names  or  clans. 

The  Rev.  Charles  Inglis  had  visited  Johnson  in  1770,  and  in 
1771  wrote  a  memorial  to  the  British  prime  minister  on  con- 
verting and  civilizing  the  Indians,  to  which  Guy  Johnson  added 
a  map  of  their  country,  having  many  interesting  features.  The 
memorial  embodied  much  of  Johnson's  own  experience  and 
ideas.  Inglis  had  this  "  copied  out  fair  in  a  good  hand,  and  in 
a  quarto  size ;  and  having  a  marble  cover,  with  Col.  Johnson's 
accurate  map  prefixed,  it  made  a  handsome  looking  pamphlet." 

Meanwhile  the  Rev.  Mr  Stuart  was  preaching  acceptably  to 
the  English,  Dutch  and  Mohawks,  and  acquiring  the  Mohawk 
language.  The  following  winter  he  visited  Joseph  Brant  at 
Canajoharie,  who  afterward  lived  with  him  and  aided  in  new 
translations  and  revisions.  When  they  had  finished  the  Gospel 
of  St  Mark,  part  of  the  Acts,  a  short  history  of  the  Bible,  an 
explanation  of  the  catechism,  and  some  additions  to  the  Mohawk 
prayer  book,  Stuart  had  orders  to  have  them  printed  in  New  York 
at  the  expense  of  the  S.  P.  G.  The  Revolution  prevented  this, 
but  he  took  the  manuscripts  to  Canada  and  gave  them  to  Col. 
Daniel   Claus,  who  afterward  took  them  to  England.     Part  of 


34°  NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

these  became  the  prayer  book  of  1787,  which  also  included  the 
Gospel  of  St  Mark. 

Two  of  the  Iroquois  deputies  to  the  Scioto  council  died  on  their 
way  home,  and  they  were  the  principal  ones.  The  others  showed 
Sir  William  a  number  of  belts  and  calumets  and  told  him  all 
they  could.  They  had  talked  first  with  the  Shawnees  at  Fort 
Pitt,  and  they  said  the  Wawiaghtanons  would  soon  send  deputies 
to  the  Six  Nations  and  Johnson.  At  the  council  they  blamed  the 
Shawnees  for  going  so  far  down  the  Ohio  and  confederating  with 
unfriendly  Indians.  All  the  belts  sent  were  faithfully  rendered. 
Nickaroondase  was  the  principal  survivor  of  those  who  went  to 
Scioto  that  year. 

The  Shawnees  replied  to  this  reproof  that  the  Six  Nations  had 
long  seemed  to  neglect  them,  and  to  forget  their  promise  of  land 
between  the  Ohio  and  the  lakes.  So  they  started  to  seek  their 
fortunes  in  their  canoes,  but  were  stopped  by  the  Iroquois  at 
Scioto,  shaken  by  the  head  and  fixed  there,  with  a  charge  to  live 
at  peace  with  the  English.  Soon  after  they  were  surprised  at 
seeing  the  Six  Nations  in  arms  and  coasting  along  the  lake  with 
the  English.  When  the  war  was  over  the  ill  treatment  of  the 
Iroquois  increased,  and  they  sent  belts  to  strengthen  the  union, 
but  supposed  they  had  not  reached  them.  They  showed  emble- 
matic belts,  representing  them  and  the  Illinois,  with  10  con- 
federate nations  between  them.  They  were  answered  by  a  true 
statement  of  the  case  and  were  told  to  come  to  Onondaga.  On 
this  they  excused  their  acts  and  promised  that  they  and  their 
allies  would  be  peaceable. 

Sep.  24,  1771,  some  Cayugas  and  Tuscaroras  were  in  Phila- 
delphia, their  speaker  being  Cheahogah,  a  Cayuga  chief.  Cawan- 
daghsaw  brought  a  letter  from  Charleston  S.  C,  dated  Sep.  6, 
saying  that  Da-ya-gongh-de-rc-sesh,  or  Thomas  King,  had  died 
there  of  Fever  the  day  before.  The  Indian  had  20  belts  and  many 
Strings  given  to   King  1))'  southern    Indians. 

In  April  1772  Johnson  had  notice  of  another  general  meeting 
at  Scioto  to  impart  the  sentiments  of  the  Six  Nations  to  those 
not  at  the  last  council.     He  took  care  that  delegates  from  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  34I 

north  were  reliable  men.  The  Shawnees,  he  said,  had  no  title 
to  the  north  side  of  the  Ohio  where  they  lived,  "  having  been 
often  moved  from  place  to  place  by  the  Six  Nations."  When 
this  council  met  the  Piankashaws,  Kickapoos  and  Wabash 
Indians  did  not  attend  because  the  Six  Nations  had  killed  some 
of  their  people  the  year  before.  The  absentees  were  reproved, 
and  messages  were  sent  them.  The  bad  belts  sent  by  Guastarax, 
the  Seneca  chief,  were  called  for,  but  had  been  stopped  by  the 
Cherokees.  Other  bad  belts  were  produced,  one  of  them  being 
a  French  belt,  among  the  largest  Johnson  had  ever  seen. 

Those  present  promised  to  come  to  Onondaga  and  bring  all 
the  belts,  but  were  not  there  at  the  appointed  time.  Johnson 
proposed  they  should  bring  the  Ohio  Senecas  nearer  home. 
There  were  difficulties.  Traders  needed  regulating,  and  fron- 
tiersmen were  lawless  and  troublesome.  A  secret  alliance  was 
in  progress  in  the  southwest,  and  with  a  view  to  this  some  Shaw- 
nees  and  Delawares  proposed  sending  a  deputation  to  England, 
to  say  that  the  Six  Nations  were  unfriendly  to  them  and  ask  to 
be  freed  from  their  rule. 

The  latter  sent  to  require  their  emigrants  to  live  nearer  home 
and  then  called  a  council  at  Onondaga,  which  was  held  the  next 
winter,  where  they  convinced  the  Senecas  of  their  misconduct. 
It  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  have  the  friendship  of  the 
Iroquois  in  case  of  war,  for  they  could  be  the  best  of  friends 
or  most  dangerous  of  enemies.  This  was  particularly  so  with 
the  Senecas,  whose  belts  had  done  harm. 

In  1773  the  Six  Nations  said  they  had  summoned  the  Pian- 
kashaws and  other  troublesome  western  nations  to  the  great 
fireplace  at  Onondaga:  "We  have  already  called  upon  them 
twice,  and  agreeably  to  our  ancient  customs  shall  do  so  the  third 
time,  before  we  strike."  They  objected  to  being  called  to  account 
for  the  death  of  every  lawless  trader.  The  French  were  more 
reasonable. 

Johnson  again  complained  of  the  pioneers,  who  generally  had 
a  prejudice  against  all  Indians,  and  the  Indians  were  disposed  to 
retaliate.     So  some  of  the  upper  Senecas  had  killed  four  French- 


342  NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

men  on  Lake  Ontario,  making  light  of  it  till  told  they  were 
British  subjects.  Then  they  came  to  Johnson,  proposing  to  cover 
their  graves,  but  he  insisted  they  should  give  up  the  murderers, 
which  they  promised  to  do.  The  notorious  George  Klock  had 
long  been  hiding  from  officers  of  the  law  and  had  lately  a  great 
quarrel  with  the  Canajoharie  chiefs.  Then  he  got  three  young 
Mohawks  to  go  with  him  to  a  seaport,  on  their  way  to  England. 

In  April  1774  Sir  William  nominated  Col.  Guy  Johnson,  his 
son-in-law,  as  his  successor  at  his  death,  agreeably  to  the  wish 
of  the  Six  Nations.  The  same  month  he  had  a  council  with 
260  Iroquois,  who  delivered  up  two  Senecas  concerned  in  the 
murder  of  the  four  Frenchmen,  though  this  was  opposed  to  their 
ancient  customs.  As  this  was  the  first  instance  of  the  kind,  he 
thought  it  would  be  good  policy  to  discharge  the  offenders  soon. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  Governor  Tryon  reckoned  the  Six 
Nations  as  10,000  souls  and  2000  warriors. 

In  June  1774  occurred  the  murder  of  Logan's  family,  popularly 
ascribed  to  Colonel  Cresap  at  the  time.  Three  of  Shikellimy's 
sons  survived  him,  all  being  Cayugas,  because  their  mother  was 
of  that  nation,  though  their  father  was  an  Oneida  chief.  The 
eldest  was  Taghncghtoris,  or  John  Shikellimy,  who  succeeded 
his  father  for  a  time.  The  second  was  Soyeghtowa,  or  James 
Logan,  the  unfortunate  chief  whose  eloquent  speech  Thomas 
Jefferson  so  highly  praised.  The  youngest  was  Sagogehyata, 
or  John  Petty,  having  the  same  Indian  name  as  Red  Jacket,  a 
favorite  one  with  the  Cayugas.  The  murdered  people  having 
many  relatives  in  New  York,  a  strong  feeling  was  aroused, 
though  the  war  was  confined  to  Virginia,  Logan  himself  refrain- 
ing from  harming  his  early  Pennsylvania  friends. 

The  Six  Nations  asked  Johnson  to  release  the  two  young  Sen- 
ccas,  which  he  hoped  to  do,  and  which  the  king  soon  commanded. 
(  )ne  died  before  release  and  w.'b  condoled  July  9,  a  council  having 

assembled  at  Johnson  Hall  that  month.  Sir  William  held  several 
conferences  at  this  time;  and  the  Indians  promised  for  them- 
selves and  their  head  women,  who  had  much  influence  with  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  343 

young  men,  to  keep  them  quiet.  They  acceded  to  the  request  of 
the  Montauks  and  would  settle  them  at  Canowaroghere,  now 
Oneida  Castle.  They  received  them  as  children  and  hoped  they 
would  prove  worthy. 

The  Cayugas  wished  no  more  rum  sold  in  their  country. 
Traders  might  pass  through  but  must  not  stop.  Sir  William 
addressed  the  council  on  the  Shawnees  and  the  Cresap  and  Logan 
trouble.  He  was  very  weak  at  this  time  and  the  fatigue  was  too 
much.  Two  hours  after  the  conference,  on  the  nth,  he  died, 
and  he  was  placed  in  the  family  vault  at  Johnstown  July  13,  1774. 

So  sudden  a  loss  at  so  critical  a  time  had  a  startling  effect,  and 
the  Indians  were  at  once  in  great  doubt  and  confusion.  Swift 
runners  were  given  belts  and  sent  to  all  the  nations  to  announce 
his  death ;  but  Col.  Guy  Johnson  was  equal  to  the  occasion,  and 
order  was  quickly  restored.  All  the  Indians  remained  to  attend 
his  funeral,  with  the  2000  people  from  the  country  around.  Next 
day  the  customary  ceremony  of  condolence  was  performed,  and 
the  council  soon  broke  up. 

The  Shawnees  and  their  confederates  sent  to  the  western 
Indians  to  join  them  against  the  Virginians,  but  some  refused. 
They  applied  to  the  Six  Nations  at  Onondaga,  but  Guy  Johnson 
had  messengers  there  before  them,  and  the  Shawnees  were  told 
not  to  expect  aid,  but  the  Iroquois  would  soon  hold  a  council 
and  take  peace  measures  which  all  would  regard. 

In  September  235  Iroquois  chiefs  and  warriors  had  a  confer- 
ence with  Guy  Johnson,  and  among  these  were  their  best  men. 
They  went  through  formal  condolences,  the  Bunt  being  very  elo- 
quent. Teyawarunte,  the  Onondaga  speaker,  with  three  strings 
covered  the  grave,  wiped  away  tears,  removed  grief,  cleared  the 
sky,  etc.  The  Bunt's  oldest  son  produced  the  several  marks  of 
Johnson's  regard  for  him,  and  according  to  old  custom  laid  them 
down  before  Colonel  Johnson,  who  restored  them.  Others  did 
the  same.  They  renewed  the  old  covenant  chain  of  21  rows, 
and  gave  Guy  Johnson  a  new  name,  Uraghquadirha,  Rays  of 
the  Sun   enlightening  the   Earth.     Goragh  was  often  added  to 


344  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

this  in  speeches,  meaning  great.  Joseph  Chew,  secretary  of 
Indian  affairs,  had  the  name  of  Decariaderoga,  Junction  of  Two 
Lakes  of  Different  Qualities. 

They  were  trying  to  recall  their  people  and  prevent  war,  but 
few  had  come  back.  They  had  also  found  a  large  black  belt 
with  two  axes  on  it,  given  to  an  Oneida  by  the  French  at  the 
close  of  the  late  war.  When  the  French  raised  themselves,  the 
belt  would  shake,  and  the  Oneida  must  be  ready  to  strike  for 
them.  He  had  kept  this  secret  till  his  death,  and  now  his  wife 
wished  to  take  the  belt  apart  for  the  sake  of  the  wampum.  John- 
son readily  bought  the  belt. 

The  Onondagas,  considering  the  great  age  of  the  Bunt,  Sir 
William  Johnson's  friend,  had  nominated  "  Onagogare  who  is 
to  succeed  the  Bunt  at  Chenughivata."  This  seems  meant  for 
alias  Chenughivata,  one  form  of  the  name  of  Otschiniata. 
There  were  other  changes.  Deputies  had  come  to  Onondaga 
from  18  western  nations  to  say  they  would  abide  by  the  decisions 
of  the  council  there.  When  the  Shawnees  came  there  in  August, 
they  demanded  aid  in  full  form.  They  would  not  accept  a  belt 
of  peace  but  demanded  a  hatchet  to  strike  the  English,  "  which 
so  enraged  King  Bunt  that  he  threw  their  belt  back  with  great 
resentment." 

Kayashuta,  a  Seneca  chief  in  Ohio,  had  been  very  useful  in 
peace  measures,  and  carried  a  call  for  a  council  at  Onondaga  in 
November.  It  opened  Nov.  5  with  a  full  attendance,  and  the 
Shawnee  affair  was  at  once  taken  up,  each  nation  declaring  its 
opinion  and  agreeing  to  maintain  peace.  The  whole  message  to 
the  Shawnees  was  vigorous,  as  an  extract  will  show: 

We  have  been  twice  here  to  advise  you  to  peace,  but  you  have 
not  attended,  and  in  compliance  with  our  ancient  customs,  we  are 
come  the  third  time  to  tell  you,  you  must  be  at  peace,  this  is 
the  third  time,  &  the  last  that  you  shall  hear  from  us  if  you 
do  not  hearken  to  us.  .  .  Leave  the  business  of  War,  repent 
and  mind  peace  alone  and  then  yon  will  be  preserved.  Quarrel- 
some people  are  dangerous,  we  advise  you  for  your  good,  for  we 
pity  you.  .  .  Mind  our  words,  they  are  strong,  they  are  words 
of  the  Six  Nations,  who  are  the  heads  of  the  Confederacy;  all 
the   Northern   nations  have   left   their   Belts   in   our   hands   and 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  345 

refered  themselves  intirely  to  our  Government  and  determination, 
they  have  joined  their  words  to  us,  who  are  the  head  of  the 
whole,  and  you  now  see  them  all  in  us  here  present. 

The  Six  Nations  were  indeed  alarmed  at  the  invasion  of  the 
Shawnees'  country  by  Virginia ;  and,  though  the  Shawnees 
handled  their  foes  severely,  a  real  defeat  and  this  stern  answer 
left  them  no  hope.  Happily  for  all,  the  war  was  soon  over  and 
was  forgotten  in  the  stirring  events  which  followed. 

The  great  union  belt,  given  them  before  the  last  war,  and 
which  had  always  lain  at  the  Onondaga  council  fire,  was  now 
placed  at  the  western  door  of  the  league,  among  the  Senecas. 
Another  belt,  now  given  by  Colonel  Johnson,  they  would  place 
carefully  among  their  great  belts  at  Onondaga,  often  looking  at 
it  that  they  might  forget  no  part. 

In  January  1775  the  Iroquois  chiefs  came  to  Colonel  Johnson 
on  important  business.  The  Shawnees  had  sent  a  message  tell- 
ing of  their  treaty  with  Virginia,  and  a  statement  that  that  prov- 
ince intended  to  quarrel  with  the  Six  Nations,  on  which  they 
were  invited  to  a  council  on  the  Ohio  in  the  spring.  The  Onei- 
das  also  said  that  the  Rev.  Mr  Kirkland  reported  that  the  king 
would  allow  no  more  goods  to  be  sent  to  the  colonies  or  Indians, 
and  powder  would  soon  be  very  high.  They  did  not  like  this, 
as  things  were  already  dear.  The  Indians  would  decline  the 
invitation  to  this  council,  but  would  call  the  Shawnees  to  one  in 
.    New  York. 

Just  as  the  conference  closed  some  Shawnees  came  with  a 
second  message  that  seven  Senecas  were  condemned  to  death 
at  Fort  Pitt,  having  lived  with  the  Shawnees  and  taken  their 
part.  The  Iroquois  blamed  their  conduct,  but  asked  Johnson's 
interposition.  He  said  they  were  held  only  as  hostages  till  their 
Scioto  friends  should  lay  down  their  arms.  They  had  been  so 
long  estranged  that  the  Six  Nations  need  not  interest  themselves, 
but  consider  them  as  wrongdoers.  The  Seneca  chief,  Kaya- 
shuta,  had  applied  to  the  governor  of  Virginia  in  their  behalf, 
as  they  were  connections  of  some  principal  chiefs.  Two  were 
released  and  the  irons  taken  from  the  rest. 


346  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

There  were  some  religious  troubles.  The  Oneidas  com- 
plained of  the  Congregational  minister's  refusal  to  baptize  their 
children,  and  the  Oquagas  had  a  similiar  complaint.  Their 
minister  excused  his  conduct  and  said  most  of  the  chiefs  and  all 
the  Tuscaroras  wished  him  to  remain.  Colonel  Johnson  did  not 
want  to  interfere  in  religious  matters,  but  said  Old  Isaac  might 
read  the  service,  as  he  did  it  well,  till  they  had  another  minister. 
The  Tuscaroras  ought  not  to  dictate,  as  they  were  newcomers. 

Chapter  23 

Protestant  missions.  Church  of  England.  Congregationalist.  Schools.  Fail- 
ures in  education.  Iroquois  loyal  to  the  king.  Asked  to  act  for  him.  Colonel 
Johnson  leaves  home  for  Montreal.  Council  at  Oswego.  Americans  confer 
with  Six  Nations.  Fire-keepers  chosen.  Brant  in  England.  Indians  divided. 
Sir  John  Johnson  leaves  home.  Iroquois  at  Philadelphia.  Indian  aid.  Re- 
turn of  Brant.  Efforts  to  take  him.  His  personal  appearance.  Brant's 
movements.  Herkimer's  interview.  Indians  hostile.  St  Leger's  expedition. 
Presents.  Fort  Stanwix  besieged.  Battle  of  Oriskany.  St  Leger's  retreat. 
Reported  burning  of  Indian  towns.     The  Susquehanna  deserted. 

Before  entering  on  the  troubles  of  the  Revolution,  a  brief 
sketch  may  be  given  of  the  early  Protestant  missions  among 
the  Iroquois. 

Dominie  Megapolensis  began  his  work  at  Albany  about  1642, 
serving  six  years  irregularly,  preaching  in  the  neighborhood  and 
making  some  converts.  The  Indians  were  pleased  to  hear  he 
intended  going  into  "  their  own  country  and  castles  (about  three 
days'  journey  farther  inland)  when  acquainted  with  their  lan- 
guage."    He  befriended  Jogues. 

Governor  Dongan  wished  English  priests  among  the  Iroquois. 
Dominie  Dellius  was  among  the  Mohawks  before  1691,  bap- 
tizing many.  The  Rev.  Bernardus  Freeman,  of  Schenectady, 
reported  35  Mohawk  Christians  in  1701,  and  translated  into  Mo- 
hawk the  Athanasian  creed,  tin-  Ten  Commandments  and  part 
of  the  prayer  book,  these  being  published  in  New  York  in  1715. 

The  Church  of  England  now  tried  to  do  something  and  a 
clergyman  was  proposed  for  each  of  the  Six  Nations,  with  two 
lay  helpers  for  each  one,  but  this  was  not  fully  carried  out. 
The  Rev.  .Mr  Smith  and  the  Rev.  Thoroughgood  Moor  were  sent 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS  347 

from  England,  the  latter  remaining  for  three  years.  The  Rev. 
Thomas  Barclay  succeeded  him,  remaining  from  1708  to  1712, 
and  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  William  Andrews,  staying  three 
years  more.  He  reported  over  60  regular  attendants  and  38 
communicants.  He  had  a  church  and  school  at  Fort  Hunter, 
and  went  also  to  Oneida,  far  to  the  west.  The  work  was  dis- 
couraging, and,  when  he  left  it  in  1718,  he  said:  "  Heathen  they 
are,  and  heathen  they  will  still  be." 

In  173 1  the  Rev.  John  Miln,  of  Albany,  was  to  visit  the  Mo- 
hawks quarterly,  staying  five  days  each  time.  By  him  the  Rev. 
Henry  Barclay  was  appointed  catechist  at  Fort  Hunter,  who 
reported  58  communicants  in  1741.  Two  years  later  there  were 
few  unbaptized.  In  1750  the  Rev.  John  Ogilvie  went  periodically 
to  the  Mohawks  from  Albany,  "  amid  great  discouragements  and 
in  the  very  outskirts  of  civilization."  The  Rev.  John  Jacob  Oel 
was  his  assistant,  laboring  at  Canajoharie  and  among  the  Onei- 
das  and  Tuscaroras.  The  Rev.  Henry  Munro  also  did  some  work 
among  the  Mohawks  previous  to  1770,  when  the  Rev.  John  Stuart 
became  a  resident  missionary,  giving  all  his  time  to  the  work, 
which  was  interrupted  by  the  war.  Before  it  was  over  he  went 
to  Canada. 

The  Rev.  John  Sergeant,  a  Congregationalist,  had  founded  an 
Indian  mission  at  Stockbridge  Mass.,  in  1736,  visiting  the  Sus- 
quehanna in  1744.  The  Rev.  David  Brainerd  came  to  the  same 
valley  for  a  short  time,  and  it  has  been  thought  that  he  visited 
Oquaga  in  1745.  The  Rev.  Elihu  Spencer  went  there  in  1748, 
remaining  till  the  next  spring  and  translating  the  Lord's  Prayer. 
Two  of  his  converts  were  Peter  Agwrondougwas,  or  Good  Peter, 
and  Isaac  Dakayenensese.  The  former  was  an  eloquent  Oneida 
chief,  and  both  sometimes  conducted  public  services. 

There  were  55  students  in  Timothy  Woodbridge's  Indian 
school  at  Stockbridge  in  1753,  some  being  from  Oquaga.  That 
year  Gideon  Hawley  and  Woodbridge  went  to  that  place,  visiting 
Johnson  on  the  way.  Woodbridge  did  not  remain  long  and 
Hawley  returned  in  1756,  on  account  of  the  war,  a  fort  being  built 
there  that  year.     After  his  departure  Good  Peter  carried  on  mis- 


34-8  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

sion  work  alone,  preaching  at  Oquaga  and  elsewhere.  The  Rev. 
Eli  Forbes  went  there  in  1762,  with  the  Rev.  Asaph  Rice.  They 
returned  in  1763.  In  that  year  Samuel  Ashpo  spent  six  weeks 
at  Otsiningo. 

In  1761  the  Rev.  Samson  Occum  went  from  the  school  at 
Lebanon  to  Oneida,  and  Samuel  Kirkland  visited  the  Mohawk 
valley,  being  then  quite  young.  His  later  work  in  New  York 
began  in  1764,  when  he  left  Joseph  Woolley  as  teacher  at  Oquaga 
in  November  and  then  went  to  the  Senecas,  remaining  there  till 
1766.  Among  the  Oneidas  and  Mohawks  127  were  then  attend- 
ing school.  After  leaving  the  Senecas,  Kirkland  for  a  time 
alternated  between  Oquaga  and  the  Mohawk  valley.  At  a  later 
day  his  public  services  were  of  inestimable  value. 

The  Rev.  Messrs  C.  J.  Smith  and  Theophilus  Chamberlain 
were  at  Oquaga  in  the  fall  of  1764,  and  in  1769  that  place  had 
been  served  for  three  years  by  the  Rev.  Eleazar  Moseley,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Rev.  Peter  and  Henry  Avery.  Aaron  Crosby  was 
there  in  1771,  and  in  1774  had  trouble  with  the  Indians  from  his 
refusal  to  use  the  liturgy  or  to  baptize  some  children. 

While  others  testified  to  a  great  advance,  as  there  certainly 
had  been,  the  scholarly  Dr  Wheelock  was  greatly  disappointed 
in  the  results  of  the  education  of  Indians.  After  telling  all  he 
had  taught  them,  he  said :  "  Some  who  on  account  of  their  parts 
and  learning  bid  the  fairest  for  usefulness,  are  sunk  down  as  low, 
savage  and  brutish  in  manner  of  living  as  they  were  before  any 
endeavours  were  used  to  raise  them  up." 

Space  will  not  permit  enlarging  on  the  frequent  failures  in 
Indian  education,  caused  by  following  theories  and  disregarding 
the  advice  of  practical  men,  acquainted  with  the  situation.  At 
this  time  the  action  of  the  Oquagas  indicates  part  of  the  advance 
already  made: 

They  would  in  order  to  restore  peace  in  their  town,  enter  into 
a  general  resolution  to  abide  by  the  Liturgy  printed  in  the  Indian 
language;  that  they  had  reason  to  believe  the  Missionary  would 
conform  to  it,  in  which  case  they  would  let  him  stay,  otherwise 
they  would  use  the  Liturgy  themselves  till  a  proper  person 
could  be  provided. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  349 

The  chiefs  now  agreed  to  send  through  their  nations  to  tell 
them  to  look  to  the  king  as  their  true  protector  and  shun  all  evil 
advice.  They  chose  a  Mohawk  and  an  Oneida,  who  would  ask 
the  Bunt  at  Onondaga  to  send  two  of  his  family  with  them. 
Colonel  Johnson  approved,  and  sent  a  "  belt  with  a  particular 
message  from  himself  to  the  Onondaga  fire-place." 

He  had  a  council  with  some  Cayuga  chiefs  and  other  Iroquois 
Feb.  28.  The  opening  was  simple.  "  The  Cayuga  chief  began 
with  the  usual  salutation  of  the  warriors,  who  being,  as  he 
observed,  a  plain  people,  would  use  but  few  words."  He  related 
the  resolution  passed  at  Onondaga  and  the  refusal  of  the  Cayugas 
to  take  the  western  ax.  They  feared  seven  Cayugas  had  joined 
the  Shawnees,  but  they  did  not,  and  brought  three  white  strings 
from  "  the  great  plains  "  to  remind  the  Iroquois  that  they  had 
not  attended  to  messages  thence.  Four  short  strings  of  black 
wampum  came  also  "  from  another  warrior  from  Canundageh, 
on  this  side  of  the  great  plains,  on  behalf  of  three  nations," 
exhorting  them  to  mind  their  true  interests.  This  was  not  the 
Canandaigua  of  New  York,  but  one  in  Ohio,  the  emigrating  Iro- 
quois carrying  local  names  with  them.  The  Hurons  and  their 
eight  confederate  nations  sent  peace  strings,  and  were  invited  to 
the  next  Iroquois  council. 

Just  after  they  left,  32  Indians  came  from  Otsiningo  or  Che- 
nango, and  elsewhere.  They  were  "  chiefs  of  the  two  tribes  at 
Chenango,  the  Chughnuts,  Owego,  and  Tioga,  being  five  several 
nations."  They  gave  congratulations,  but  complained  of  the 
boundary.  Producing  a  map,  Johnson  showed  how  the  mistake 
came.  It  affected  four  villages,  but  would  be  considered,  and  all 
would  be  satisfied.  It  was  a  time  of  good  promises.  In  July 
King  George  ordered  Colonel  Johnson,  in  consequence  of  the 
rebellion,  "  to  lose  no  time  in  taking  such  steps  as  may  induce 
the  Six  Nations  to  take  up  the  hatchet  against  His  Majesty's 
rebellious  subjects  in  America." 

May  14  Colonel  Johnson  heard  that  the  Americans  were  com- 
ing to  arrest  him  and  fortified  himself.  He  said  his  Indian 
expresses  were  stopped,  messages  altered  and  provisions  detained, 


35°  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

so  he  resolved  to  move  westward,  starting  in  June  with  250 
Mohawks  and  armed  white  men.  At  Fort  Stanwix  he  had  a 
conference  with  260  Oneidas  and  Oquagas,  whom  he  had  to 
leave,  the  whole  country  being  in  arms  behind  him.  He  sent 
to  Niagara  and  Oswegatchie  for  supplies,  and  held  another  coun- 
cil at  Ontario,  or  Oswego,  of  which  Stone  made  two  places  by 
mistaking  the  names.  At  that  place  he  had  1458  Indians  and 
about  100  white  men.  With  some  difficulty  he  secured  the  aid 
of  the  former,  and  left  Oswego  for  Montreal  July  11,  reaching 
there  July  17  with  220  Indians.  Joseph  Brant  was  then  his 
secretary. 

There  was  a  council  at  Montreal  July  26,  with  1664  Canadian 
Indians,  who  promised  aid  and  were  placed  in  different  camps. 
Little  was  done,  and  on  Aug.  12  some  of  the  Six  Nations  and  St 
Regis  Indians  "  returned  with  their  War  Belt  to  Onondaga,  after 
assuring  Col.  Johnson  they  would  be  ready  to  return  whenever 
there  was  a  prospect  of  vigorous  measures."  Desultory  hos- 
tilities followed,  and  a  message  came  from  "  the  Six  Nations 
that  the  rebells  had  employ'd  Agents  to  negociate  a  treaty  with 
the  Caughnawagas." 

The  commissioners  of  the  12  united  colonies  had  a  brief 
conference  with  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations  at 
<  .erman  Flats,  Aug.  15,  1775.  Two  commissioners  came,  inviting 
them  to  meet  the  other  three  at  Albany,  to  rekindle  the  fire  their 
ancestors  had  placed  there.  As  some  were  not  present,  they 
were  to  invite  them,  and  also  the  Caughnawagas  and  the  seven 
towns  on  the  St  Lawrence.  This  belt  was  declined,  and  seems 
the  one  now  belonging  to  the  Douw  family  at  Poughkeepsie. 
After  the  business  was  opened,  an  Oneida  answered:  'The 
day  is  far  spent,  and  we  defer  a  reply  till  to-morrow,  as  we  are 
weary  from  lia\ing  sat  long  in  council.  We  think  it  time  for  a 
little  drink,  and  you  must  remember  that  the  Twelve  United 
(  '«  donies  are  a  great  body." 

The  next  day  they  accepted  the  invitation  for  themselves,  but 
it  would  take  a  year  to  invite  their  distant  allies.  They  would 
do  the  business  and   then   inform  them.      It   was  not   best  to  send 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  35 1 

to  the  Caughnawagas,  as  a  man  there  would  prevent  it,  but  the 
Six  Nations  knew  their  minds  and  those  of  the  seven  tribes.  The 
commissioners  asked  the  Indians  for  neutrality  but  not  for  aid. 

The  appointed  Albany  council  came  off  Aug.  23  and  was  the 
last  one  held  there,  but  effected  little.  Colonel  Barlow  said  that 
about  500  Indians  came.  They  were  "  very  likely,  spry,  lusty 
fellows,  drest  very  nice  for  Indians.  The  larger  part  of  them  had 
on  ruffeled  shirts,  Indian  stockings  and  shoes,  and  blankets  richly 
trimmed  with  silver  and  wampum."  On  the  day  of  the  council 
he  said  they  made  "  a  very  beautiful  show,  being  the  likeliest 
brightest  Indians  I  ever  saw." 

They  were  received  by  the  commissioners,  the  Albany  com- 
mittee and  others,  and  compliments  wrere  exchanged.  In  reply 
to  an  invitation  Kanaghqueesa  said  they  would  cheerfully  take 
a  drink  and  smoke  a  pipe  with  the  gentlemen.  A  business  meeting- 
was  appointed  for  Aug.  25,  at  the  Dutch  church.  The  Indians  pro- 
posed to  be  neutral,  stay  at  home  in  peace  and  smoke  their  pipes. 
When  the  commissioners  addressed  them,  they  had  the  great  pipe 
lighted  and  sent  around.  They  then  made  a  long  speech  which 
they  wished  might  remain  at  Onondaga,  and  gave  them  a  calumet 
to  be  kept  at  the  same  place.  This  would  be  done.  The  Indians 
said  it  was  customary,  when  a  council  fire  was  kindled,  or  a  tree 
of  peace  planted,  to  appoint  some  one  to  watch  them,  who  should 
have  a  wing  to  keep  the  hearth  clean.  The  Americans  should 
appoint  one  as  they  had  done,  and  Philip  Schuyler  and  Volkcrt 
Douw  were  chosen. 

In  November  1775  Brant  and  other  chiefs  went  to  England 
with  Colonel  Johnson,  and  Mar.  14  and  May  7,  1776,  Brant  made 
speeches  on  land  troubles  before  Lord  Germaine.  He  returned 
in  May,  reaching  Staten  Island  in  July.  Oteroughyanento  also 
spoke  before  Lord  Germaine.  They  said,  "  We  are  tired  out  in 
making  complaints  and  getting  no  redress."  This  was  promised 
when  the  troubles  were  over. 

In  the  attack  on  St  Johns,  some  New  York  Mohawks  fought 
against  the  Americans,  while  the  Caughnawagas  helped  them  in 
Canada  for  a  while.     The  River  Indians,  or  Stockbridges,  were 


352  NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

friendly,  the  Oneidas  and  Mohawks  of  the  lower  castle  neutral, 
but  other  Mohawks  congregated  at  Oquaga  in  a  half  hostile  way. 
In  February  1776  Governor  Tryon  wrote  that  the  Indians  north- 
ward and  westward,  as  far  as  Detroit,  were  in  the  king's  interest 
and  had  chosen  Peter  Johnson  as  chief.  He  was  the  son  of  Sir 
William  Johnson  by  Molly  Brant,  his  Indian  wife;  and  captured 
Ethan  Allen  near  Montreal.  Through  his  sister  Molly,  Joseph 
Brant  had  much  influence.  Those  who  mentioned  her  incident- 
ally spoke  of  her  as  a  kind  and  pleasant  woman. 

Sir  John  Johnson,  hearing  he  was  to  be  arrested  though  on 
parole,  left  his  home  in  May  1776,  with  three  Indian  guides,  130 
Scotch  and  120  other  inhabitants,  going  to  Canada  by  way  of 
Oswegatchie.  He  had  fortified  his  house,  and  false  information 
had  been  lodged  against  him.  On  the  first  movement  occasioned 
by  this,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  send  a  body  of  troops,  and 
a  message  was  sent  to  the  lower  Mohawk  castle.  Little  Abra- 
ham and  other  chiefs  met  Schuyler  at  Schenectady  and  said: 
"  We  intended  to  have  gone  down  to  Albany  in  order  to  speak 
to  you ;  but  thank  God  that  He  has  given  us  an  opportunity  to 
meet  you  here,  as  we  have  some  matters  to  communicate  to  you." 
They  were  sure  the  information  was  false,  and  warned  Schuy- 
ler against  anything  that  might  cause  trouble.  He  then  pro- 
posed to  have  Sir  John  meet  him,  and  this  pleased  them.  They 
met  and  Sir  John  gave  his  parole,  but  later  suspicions  and  orders 
caused  his  flight.     After  that,  he  was  an  active  partizan. 

Brant  soon  became  the  principal  Iroquois  leader.  Mr  W.  L. 
Stone  discussed  his  birth  and  hereditary  chieftainship,  but  not 
in  a  satisfactory  way.  King  Hendrick,  he  said,  was  succeeded 
by  Little  Abraham,  and  he  by  Brant.  He  also  said  that,  while 
no  book  mentions  Brant's  presence  at  the  battle  of  the  Cedars  in 
May  1776,  he  had  positive  evidence  of  his  being  there.  Brant 
sailed  from  England  that  month,  reaching  New  York  in  July. 
The  Mohawks  were  probably  alone  in  that  battle,  as  four  nations 
had  then  a  peace  embassy  in  Philadelphia,  where  the  Onondaga 
speaker  gave  the  name  of  Karandouan,  or  Great  Tree,  to  John 
Hancock.        But,    while    Congress    advised    neutrality,    it    really 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  353 

wished  Indian  aid,  and  in  May  resolved  that  Washington  might 
employ  2000  Indians  in  Canada  and  elsewhere,  with  rewards  of 
$100  for  each  officer  and  $30  for  each  private  captured.  It  favored 
employing  the  Six  Nations  "  on  the  best  terms  that  could  be 
procured,"  and  furnished  12  blank  commissions  for  as  many 
Indian  officers.  Washington  wished  General  Schuyler  to  employ 
them,  but  he  was  averse  to  it. 

In  November  1776  Col.  Guy  Johnson  wrote  that  he  had  "  lately 
dispatched  in  disguise  one  of  my  officers  with  Joseph,  the  Indian 
chief,  to  get  across  the  country  to  the  Six  Nations,"  and  hoped 
they  would  do  this  undiscovered,  so  as  to  prepare  "  the  Indians 
to  co-operate  with  our  military  movements."  Brant  reached 
Oquaga  and  raised  the  British  flag.  On  this  alarm  the  Campbell 
house  was  fortified  at  Cherry  Valley,  where  a  company  of  rangers 
had  been  sent  in  the  summer.  Cherry  Valley  had  asked  aid  a 
year  earlier,  when  many  Mohawks  went  to  Oquaga,  "  as  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Old  England  District  and  Unadilla  are  daily 
flying  into  our  settlement,  so  that  we  shall  immediately  in  all 
appearances  have  an  open,  defenceless,  and  unguarded  frontier." 

Efforts  were  made  to  have  the  Indians  bring  in  salt  from  Onon- 
daga in  1777,  as  the  need  was  great.  Mr  Stone  quoted  a  speech 
of  the  Oneida  chiefs  at  Fort  Stanwix,  Jan.  19,  to  the  effect  that 
news  had  come  that  the  grand  council  fire  at  Onondaga  was 
extinguished.  Death  had  taken  90  out  of  that  town,  among 
whom  were  three  principal  chiefs.  This  was  the  customary  way 
of  announcing  notable  deaths,  but  it  was  a  mystery  to  Air  Stone. 

In  February  1777,  just  after  he  had  conditional  permission  to 
return  to  Canajoharie,  which  he  did  not  do,  the  New  York  pro- 
vincial council  thought  it  "  necessary  to  provide  means  for  appre- 
hending Joseph  Brant."  This  was  modified  to  negotiations 
between  him  and  Col.  John  Harper,  who  reached  Oquaga  Feb. 
27,  with  two  men.  He  had  soldiers  on  the  Mohawk  ready  to 
aid  him  if  required,  and  met  the  Indians  in  a  friendly  way,  pro- 
vided a  feast,  wore  the  Indian  dress  and  made  a  speech.  They 
said  they  were  still  neutral,  and  he  thought  they  meant  to  be.  A 
little  later  he  heard  that  Brant  intended  to  settle  at  Onondaga. 


354  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Messrs  Halsey  and  Ketchum  both  quote  a  description  of  Brant 
in  1782  from  Capt.  Jeremiah  Snyder: 

He  was  a  likely  fellow,  of  a  fierce  aspect — tall  and  rather  spare 
— well  spoken,  and  apparently  about  thirty  years  of  age.  He 
wore  moccasins,  elegantly  trimmed  with  beads,  leggings  and 
breech-cloth  of  superfine  blue,  short  green  coat,  with  two  silver 
epaulets,  and  a  small  laced  round  hat.  By  his  side  hung  an 
elegant  silver  mounted  cutlass,  and  his  blanket  of  blue  cloth, 
purposely  dropped  in  the  chair  on  which  he  sat,  to  display  his 
epaulets,  was  gorgeously  decorated  with  a  border  of  red. 

Some  time  after  Harper  met  a  party  at  Schenevus  creek,  and 
learned  that  they  meant  to  destroy  the  Johnston  settlement. 
With  17  men  he  surprised  the  party  at  night,  securing  all 
unharmed.  Over  700  Indians  were  now  at  Oquaga  under  Brant, 
and  in  May  he  went  up  the  river  with  nearly  80  warriors.  At 
Unadilla  he  made  the  settlers  supply  him  with  provisions  and 
took  some  cattle.  Those  not  loyalists  soon  removed.  He  burned 
some  deserted  houses,  and  other  places  were  abandoned,  but  the 
Tories  sought  Unadilla  as  a  refuge  and  base  of  operations. 

The  people  of  Harpersfield  asked  aid;  and  Gen.  Nicholas  Her- 
kimer went  to  Unadilla  to  confer  with  Brant,  reaching  there  late 
in  June.  The  conference  was  unsatisfactory  and  just  escaped 
violence.  Herkimer  returned  to  Cherry  Valley  June  28,  and  the 
next  day  Brant  put  Unadilla  in  the  hands  of  the  Tories,  remain- 
ing near  by  himself,  and  committing  depredations.  He  soon 
after  went  to  Oswego  with  300  Indians,  where  many  were 
already,  to  meet  the  English  in  council  there.  Colonel  Johnson 
had  already  reported  that  the  Six  Nations  had  called  in  all  their 
people  to  make  a  diversion  on  the  frontier  of  New  York,  and  had 
made  successful  attacks  on  the  border  from  Fort  Stanwix  to 
Ohio. 

In  June  he  had  a  letter  from  the  Iroquois  chiefs,  written  for 
them  by  Brant.  They  had  met  in  May,  as  directed,  and  were 
all  ready  but  the  Oneidas.  All  "  would  act  as  one  man."  They 
had  cut  off  a  sergeant  and  12  men  at  Fori  Stanwix.  had  sent 
parties  to  Pennsylvania,  and  had  defeated  a  party  with  50  head 
of  cattle  for  the  American  garrisons  on  the  Mohawk.     The  700 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  355 

Indians  assembled  near  Oswego  would  soon  strike  a  blow. 
Colonel  Claus  had  been  appointed  commander  of  the  Indians  in 
Canada,  and  St  Leger  was  on  his  way  to  Oswego,  where  the  Six 
Nations  would  join  him.  In  July  he  said  the  Indians  had  made 
some  successful  attacks  and  were  ready  to  join  either  St  Leger 
or  Burgoyne. 

St  Leger  was  joined  by  Sir  John  Johnson  at  Buck  island  and 
by  150  Mississagas  and  Iroquois  on  the  way.  The  Indians 
Colonel  Claus  knew  best  were  with  Burgoyne.  When  St  Leger 
reached  Oswego,  matters  were  not  in  a  satisfactory  condition, 
and  great  promises  had  to  be  made.  Mary  Jemison  said  every 
warrior  received  a  suit  of  clothes,  brass  kettle,  tomahawk,  gun, 
powder  and  money,  and  a  bounty  for  scalps  was  offered.  Thus 
richly  furnished,  she  said,  the  Senecas  became  "  full  of  the  fire 
of  war,  and  anxious  to  encounter  their  enemies."  They  were 
told  they  might  smoke  their  pipes  and  see  these  whipped,  but 
instead  "  they  were  obliged  to  fight  for  their  lives,  and  in  the 
battle  were  completely  beaten." 

Claus  met  Brant  at  Oswego,  his  300  Indians  coming  next  day. 
They  had  been  out  two  months  and  were  destitute,  Butler  hav- 
ing given  him  too  little  ammunition.  When  Herkimer  visited 
him  with  300  men,  with  500  more  near  by,  he  caused  him  to 
retire  by  a  firm  front,  though  having  but  200  men  and  20  pounds 
of  powder.     Such  was  his  story. 

St  Leger  intended  leaving  the  lake  at  Salmon  river,  but  came 
to  Oswego,  passing  through  Oneida  lake  afterward,  Three  Rivers 
being  the  Indian  rendezvous  and  place  of  equipment.  The  army 
left  Oswego  July  26,  part  reaching  Fort  Stanwix  Aug.  2,  where 
the  siege  began  next  day.  St  Leger  brought  no  heavy  guns, 
intending  a  surprise,  but,  instead  of  60  men  in  a  stockade,  his 
scouts  found  600  repairing  the  old  fort,  who  knew  his  strength 
and  plans.  He  had  time  to  get  more  artillery  but  would  not  do 
it,  and  the  garrison  feared  no  assault. 

The  first  definite  intelligence  of  his  advance  was  brought  by 
Thomas  Spencer,  a  half-breed  Oneida  chief.  He  had  been  con- 
cealed at  a  council  at  Cassasseny  (St  Regis),  where  Colonel  Claus 


356  NEW   YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 

spoke,  begging  the  Indians  to  join.  He  reported  700  Indians 
and  400  regular  troops  at  Oswego,  with  600  Tories  on  an  island 
above  Oswegatchie,  and  advised  prompt  action.  Herkimer  called 
out  the  militia,  reinforced  Fort  Stanwix,  and  commenced  repairs. 
The  Oneidas  were  excited,  fearing  harm  from  the  other  Indians. 
Jul)r  29,  Thomas  Spencer  wrote  to  the  Americans :  "  To-morrow 
we  are  going  to  the  Three  Rivers  to  the  treaty.  We  expect  to 
meet  the  warriors  there,  and  when  we  come  and  declare  we  are 
for  peace,  we  expect  to  be  used  with  indifference  and  sent  away." 

St  Leger's  force  moved  in  boats  and  has  been  estimated  at 
1700;  but  J.  W.  de  Peyster  reasonably  made  it  some  hundreds 
less.  Lieutenant  Bird's  party  went  ahead,  reaching  Three  Rivers 
July  28,  where  16  Senecas  and  over  70  Mississagas  joined  him, 
others  following  later.  He  was  at  the  east  end  of  Oneida  lake 
July  30,  and  Brant  and  his  men  were  sent  to  his  aid.  Molly 
Brant  gave  notice  of  the  advance  of  Herkimer,  whose  men  met 
at  Fort  Dayton,  leaving  there  Aug.  4,  and  encamping  near  Oris- 
kany  on  the  5th.  Thence  an  express  went  forward  to  arrange 
signals  and  a  sortie.  Herkimer  waited  for  the  signal ;  his  officers 
were  impatient  and  charged  him  with  cowardice.  Stung  by  this, 
he  gave  the  fatal  order  to  advance,  and  fell  into  an  ambuscade  2 
miles  west  of  Oriskany,  a  spot  now  marked  by  a  stately  monu- 
ment. Spencer  had  warned  him  that  this  might  happen,  but 
the  surprise  was  complete.  The  bloody  battle  was  briefly  inter- 
rupted by  a  storm.  It  was  a  terrible  struggle  in  every  way. 
Brother  fought  with  brother,  neighbor  against  neighbor,  hand 
to  hand  and  relentless,  neither  victorious.  The  Americans  lost 
200  killed,  besides  the  wounded.  The  Indians  alone  had  100 
killed,  of  whom  36  were  Senecas.  When  the  Indian  survivors 
reached  home,  the  dead  were  mourned  by  "  the  most  doleful 
yells,   shrieks  and   bowlings,   and  by  inimitable  gesticulations." 

Terrible  as  was  this  blow  to  both,  neither  party  as  yet  gave 
up.  The  Americans  knew  the  lightness  of  the  English  guns  and 
refused  to  surrender;  St  Leger  dared  not  risk  an  assault.  The 
siege  dragged  on,  and  Johnson  wished  to  go  down  the  Mohawk 
with  some  force,  assured  that  many  would  join  him  there,  but 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  357 

St  Leger  would  not  consent.  The  Indians  began  to  drop  off, 
and  the  chiefs  advised  a  return  to  Oswego  for  heavier  guns  for 
a  renewal  of  the  siege.  In  the  sally  from  the  fort  Aug.  6,  their 
camp  had  been  plundered,  and,  having  gone  into  battle  almost 
naked,  at  night  they  had  nothing  to  cover  them,  nor  could  the 
British  then  repair  their  loss.  The  Americans  were  not  without 
anxiety,  and  Colonel  Willett  and  another  officer  went  for  aid 
Aug.  10.  General  Arnold  rapidly  advanced,  and  the  siege  was 
abandoned  Aug.  2.2,  the  retreat  quickly  becoming  a  flight,  the 
Indians  themselves  adding  to  the  fears  of  the  troops. 

Colonel  Claus  had  a  small  opinion  of  St  Leger  and  complained 
of  the  trouble  about  Indian  supplies  he  had  then  and  afterward. 
He  stayed  some  time  in  Oswego  and  sent  thence  three  good 
officers  to  live  with  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas.  He  thought  but 
for  his  presence  at  Oswego  and  Brant's  management,  the  Iro- 
quois would  have  taken  no  part  at  this  time.  They  said  they 
were  called  to  a  council  and  not  to  war.  Brant  was  constantly 
busy  with  the  Six  Nations  and  he  thought  they  would  take  the 
field.  He  afterward  complained  of  Carleton's  conduct  to  him  and 
the  Mohawk  refugees  in  Canada.  Carleton  proposed  giving 
their  care  to  one  of  Major  Campbell's  deputies,  who  was  one  of 
those  whose  harsh  treatment  drove  the  Indians  from  Burgoyne's 
army,  thus  emboldening  the  Americans.  June  24  the  New  York 
Assembly  made  a  congratulatory  address  to  some  Seneca  chiefs 
who  were  returning  from  Washington's  headquarters,  and  who 
soon  became  openly  hostile. 

Some  doubtful  stories  were  current.  Colonel  Johnson  heard 
that,  after  the  battle  of  Bennington,  the  Americans  burned  the 
Mohawk  villages,  and  he  hoped  to  profit  by  their  resentment. 
It  was  also  said  that,  after  the  battle  of  Oriskany,  the  Six  Nations 
burned  an  Oneida  village,  destroyed  the  crops,  and  killed  and 
carried  away  their  cattle.  It  was  added  that  the  Oneidas  avenged 
themselves  on  Brant's  family  and  sister  at  Canajoharie,  robbing 
and  driving  them  away.  They  then  went  to  the  lower  Mohawk 
castle  and  did  the  same  with  those  whose  men  were  in  the  king's 
service.     The  simple  truth  seems  to  be  that  Molly  Brant  now 


35§  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

took  refuge  at  Onondaga  or  among  the  Senecas,  where  she  was 
influential.  Colonel  Claus  heard  that  the  Six  Nations  decreed 
her  satisfaction  by  ordering  hostilities  on  those  Oneidas  who  had 
driven  her  away. 

Rands  from  Oquaga  now  invaded  the  Delaware  and  Scho- 
harie settlements,  and  the  Schoharie  people  complained  of  neg- 
lect. The  Susquehanna  was  deserted,  except  that  Harpersfield 
was  a  Tory  rendezvous  and  Unadilla  full  of  the  worst  people 
of  the  frontier.  The  year  ended  with  an  eloquent  appeal  made 
by  Congress  to  the  Six  Nations,  exhorting  them  to  peace  and  re- 
minding them  of  the  consequences  of  war.  It  had  no  effect,  for 
no  presents  appealed  to  those  disposed  to  be  hostile. 

Chapter  24 

Council  at  Johnstown.  Schoharie  valley  invaded.  Wyoming  massacre.  Sen- 
ecas in  Philadelphia.  Queen  Esther's  town  destroyed.  Brant's  depreda- 
tions. Iroquois  towns  burned  on  the  Unadilla  and  Susquehanna.  Cherry 
Valley  destroyed.  Onondaga  towns  burned.  Indians  burn  towns  in  New 
York.  Sullivan's  and  Brodhead's  campaigns  against  the  Cayugas  and  Sen- 
ecas. Raid  in  Mohawk  valley.  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  join  the  English. 
Schoharie  valley  ravaged.  Wawarsing  burned.  Walter  N.  Butler  defeated 
and  killed.  Expedition  against  Oswego.  Number  of  Indians  in  the  Eng- 
lish service. 

Another  council  met  at  Johnstown  Alar.  9,  1778,  with  700 
Indians  present.  Few  Cayugas  and  no  Senecas  were  there. 
The  latter  wanted  revenge  and  were  surprised  they  were  called 
at  all.  All  but  the  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  were  accused  of 
treachery,  and  these  warned  the  Americans  not  to  trust  the  Onon- 
dagas,  but  said  they  would  aid  them,  themselves.  An  Onon- 
daga chief  truly  said  the  sachems  were  all  for  peace,  but,  like 
the  whius,  could  not  always  restrain  the  young  men.  La 
Fayette  was  there,  and  procured  forts  for  Schoharie  and  Cherry 
Valley.  The  Iroquois  gave  him  the  name  of  Kayewla  at  this 
time. 

T11  March  1778  Colonel  Johnson  explained  some  matters  to 
Lord  Germaine.  The  cruelty  of  the  [ndians  was  misrepresented, 
and  the  colonists  tried  to  secure  their  aid  in  1775.  The  toma- 
hawk, so  "Hen  talked  of,  was  seldom  used  except  for  smoking  or 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  359 

cutting  wood,  and  they  were  rarely  guilty  of  any  cruelty  but 
scalping  the  dead.  The  king  instructed  Braddock  to  employ 
them,  and  the  colonists  had  a  price  for  scalps  at  various  times. 

Barent  Frey  and  Brant  attacked  Cobleskill  in  May,  doing  much 
damage,  and  there  was  a  sharp  conflict  on  the  upper  branch  of 
that  stream  July  2,  between  the  Indians  and  Americans,  in  which 
the  latter  were  defeated.  In  the  summer  300  Indians  and  Tories 
invaded  the  Schoharie  valley  and  desolated  it,  but  cavalry  from 
Albany  put  them  to  flight.  A  mistake  of  Brant's  saved  Cherry 
Valley  for  a  time,  but  he  destroyed  Springfield  June  18,  and  then 
some  small  places  near  Otsego  lake.  The  country  was  in  con- 
tinual alarm,  and  in  July  the  Delaware  country  was  raided  as 
low  as  Minisink. 

In  the  summer  occurred  the  bloody  tragedy  of  Wyoming, 
celebrated  in  history  and  song.  That  fair  valley  belonged  to  the 
Iroquois  by  right  of  conquest,  and  they  knew  it  as  the  Great  Plain. 
Its  sale  and  the  land  disputes  between  Pennsylvania  and  Con- 
necticut have  been  mentioned.  Troubles  increased  when  the 
war  began,  and  the  banishment  of  many  loyalists  augmented 
previous  animosity.  In  April  and  May  these  joined  in  the  Indian 
depredations.  A  greater  stroke  was  planned.  In  June  Colonel 
Butler  left  Niagara  with  300  loyalists  and  500  Indians,  his  force 
swelling  on  the  way  till  he  is  said  to  have  had  700  Indians  with 
him  when  he  left  Tioga,  mostly  Senecas  led  by  noted  chiefs. 
This  army  fell  on  Wyoming  July  3,  defeating  the  rash  sally  from 
the  fort,  desolating  the  valley  and  killing  about  300  people.  The 
horrible  stories  of  Catharine  and  Esther  Montour  were  doubted 
by  Stone,  nor  is  his  account  of  the  two  families  correct.  From 
the  former  Catharine's  Town,  N.  Y.,  had  its  name,  and  Colonel 
Campbell  mentioned  her  and  not  Esther  at  Wyoming.  The  Penn- 
sylvania tradition  alone  preserves  the  latter  name.  She  is  said 
to  have  been  the  daughter  of  French  Margaret,  and  wife  of  Echo- 
gohund,  king  of  the  Munsey  Indians,  succeeding  to  his  authority 
on  his  death  and  living  at  Seshequin.  A  captive,  Mrs  Whittaker, 
often  saw  her  there,  and  described  her  as  a  woman  of  fine  appear- 
ance and  pleasant  manners.    This  was  earlier  in  the  war,  but  the 


3°0  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

acts  ascribed  to  her  are  not  in  harmony  with  her  character.  The 
next  year's  attack  on  Wyoming  by  a  large  force  was  repulsed, 
but  Brant  shared  in  neither  of  these. 

A  Seneca  delegation  was  in  Philadelphia  at  the  time  of  the 
Wyoming  invasion,  but  is  said  to  have  left  without  notice  and 
refused  to  return.  This  would  not  be  inferred  from  a  letter  of 
James  Deane  to  Philip  Schuyler,  dated  at  Fort  Stanwix,  Oct. 
10,  1778: 

As  the  Seneca  Chief,  called  the  Great  Tree,  who  was  the  sum- 
mer past  with  General  Washington,  returned  thro'  Oneida,  he 
gave  our  Friends  there  the  most  solemn  assurances  that  upon  his 
Arrival  in  his  own  Country,  he  would  exert  his  utmost  Influence 
to  dispose  his  tribe  to  peace  and  Friendship  with  the  United 
States,  and  that  should  his  Attempts  prove  unsuccessful,  he  would 
immediately  leave  his  Nation  and  join  the  Oneidas  with  his 
Friends  &  Adherents. 

Hearing  nothing  for  a  long  time,  the  Oneidas  sent  to  know 
the  result.  Fie  had  tried  hard  but  been  unsuccessful.  His  people 
became  excited  over  rumors  of  invasion  and  flew  to  arms.  Then 
he  sided  with  them.  A  small  band  of  Onondagas  had  joined 
the  hostile  warriors,  and  all  would  meet  on  the  Chemung.  When 
it  was  found  that  the  Senecas  took  part  at  Wyoming,  an  army 
was  sent  against  the  hostile  Indians.  It  marched  toward  the 
Sandusky  towns,  but  stopped  at  Tuscarawa  and  built  Fort  Lau- 
rens.  Col.  Thomas  Hartley  reported  operations  on  the  northern 
line  of  Pennsylvania  in  September,  having  reached  Tioga  Sep. 
26,  with  200  men  : 

We  burnt  Town,  Hester's  Palace  or  Town,  &  all  the  settle- 
ments on  this  side.  .  .  Mr  Carberry  with  the  Horse  only, 
was  close  on  Butler,  he  was  in  possession  of  the  Town  of  Shaw- 
nee, 3  Miles  up  the  Cayuga  Branch,  but  as  we  did  not  advance, 
he  returned.  .  .  I  lad  we  had  500  Regular  Troops,  and  150 
Light  Troops,  with  one  or  two  Pieces  of  Artillery,  we  probably 
might  have  destroyed  Chemung,  which  is  now  the  recepticle  of 

all    villainous    Indians    &    Tories    from    the    different    Tribes    and 

-tales. 

Branl  destroyed  Andrus-town,  southeast  of  German  Flats,  July 
18,  and  was  followed  as  far  as  Little  Lakes,  where  a  Tory  settle- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  361 

ment  was  burned.  July  24  a  regiment  of  regulars  reached 
Cherry  Valley,  and  some  successful  parties  were  sent  out.  At 
German  Flats  Brant  had  been  expected  all  summer  and  was  dis- 
covered in  September.  The  alarm  was  given,  and  the  people 
took  refuge  in  Forts  Dayton  and  Herkimer,  but  all  outside  was 
destroyed.  He  was  followed  to  the  Unadilla  by  300  militia, 
but  without  success. 

Sep.  25  a  band  of  100  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  came  to  Fort 
Stanwix,  saying  they  had  taken  the  hatchet,  burned  Unadilla, 
(one  of  the  upper  villages)  and  Butternuts,  bringing  five  pris- 
oners from  each  place.  They  now  took  prisoners  and  not  scalps. 
Col.  William  Butler  was  sent  to  Schoharie  in  August,  with  a 
regular  regiment  and  four  companies  of  riflemen.  In  October 
he  destroyed  Unadilla,  Oquaga,  Conihunto,  etc.  The  Oquaga 
Indians  had  gone  on  a  raid  to  the  Delaware  river. 

A  little  before  the  destruction  of  Cherry  Valley,  Alary  Degon- 
wadonti,  or  Molly  Brant,  wrote  to  Captain  John,  or  Chief  Dese- 
ronto,  from  some  Iroquois  town,  apparently  a  Seneca  one : 
"About  500  left  here  Oct.  23rd,  for  Karightongegh  [Cherry 
Valley].  They  said  that  Karightongegh  shall  be  destroyed. 
Sakayengwaraghdon  [Old  Smoke,  the  principal  Seneca  chief]  is 
their  leader." 

Walter  Butler  had  escaped  from  Albany  and  was  burning  for 
revenge.  The  Senecas  and  others  were  in  arms,  and  the  Indians 
were  to  meet  at  Tioga  to  invade  either  Pennsylvania  or  New 
Jersey.  He  got  command  of  part  of  his  father's  rangers,  with 
permission  to  use  Brant's  Indians,  500  of  whom  joined  his  band 
of  200  men.  Cherry  Valley  was  attacked  Nov.  II,  1778.  Colonel 
Alden  was  killed  outside  the  fort,  which  was  bravely  defended, 
but  the  place  was  destroyed,  32  of  the  people  and  16  soldiers 
being  killed  and  many  made  prisoners.  Colonel  Klock  was  to 
come  with  200  men  to  protect  the  place,  but  arrived  a  day  too 
late  and  was  much  blamed.  The  Indians  withdrew  Nov.  13. 
Most  of  the  women  and  children  were  soon  released,  but  Airs 
Campbell  was  taken  to  the  Seneca  castle  of  Kanadesaga,  near 
Geneva,  where  she  was  adopted  and  kindly  treated.     She  was 


362  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

afterwards  exchanged,  the  aged  chief,  Guyanguahta,  being  instru- 
mental in  this.  The  Indians  celebrated  their  victory  in  that 
town.  After  a  council,  the  warriors  danced  and  sang  around  a 
fire,  each  being  painted  black  and  white,  parading  the  prisoners 
and  giving  the  scalp  yell.  The  feast  ended  with  the  killing, 
roasting  and  eating  of  a  white  dog. 

Some  personal  feelings  influenced  this  attack.  A  month  after- 
ward four  chiefs  said  to  Colonel  Cantine :  "  Your  rebels  came  to 
Oghwaga  when  we  Indians  were  gone,  and  you  burned  our 
houses,  which  made  us  and  our  brothers,  the  Seneca  Indians, 
angry>  so  that  we  destroyed  men,  women,  and  children  at  Cherry 
Valley." 

In  January  1779  Colonel  Van  Dyck,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  had  word 
from  the  Oneidas  that  Brant  meant  to  strike  a  blow  before 
spring.  They  had  word  from  him  and  the  Quinquoga  (Cayuga) 
Indians  to  join  him.  They  considered  their  answer  Jan.  16,  and 
would  adhere  to  the  Americans.  Some  principal  Onondaga 
chiefs,  then  on  their  way  to  Fort  Stanwix,  were  invited  to  their 
council  and  approved  of  their  answer.  The  Onondagas  had 
been  asked  by  the  western  nations  to  extinguish  the  council  fire, 
but  would  not  do  so,  hoping  for  reconciliation  yet.  They  prom- 
ised to  insist  that  all  in  their  nation  should  declare  for  one  side 
or  the  other  when  they  got  home.  In  this  the  Oneidas  fully 
trusted  and  were  in  high  spirits. 

Two  Oneidas  returned  from  Niagara  Feb.  26,  with  reports  of 
Brant's  intentions.  The  Delawares  and  Shawnees  were  to  strike 
the  Virginia  frontier,  and  he  was  to  lead  the  main  expedition  to 
the  Mohawk,  while  another  was  to  go  to  Schoharie  by  Unadilla. 
The  14  Onondaga  chiefs,  who  went  to  Niagara  to  bring  their 
people  back,  had  not  been  allowed  to  return.     Brant  did  not  come. 

For  some  reason  the  Onondagas  were  thought  treacherous, 
and  a  secret  expedition  was  planned  against  a  people  nominally 
at  peace.  A  party  of  558  men  was  sent  in  30  boats,  apparently 
to  Oswego,  really  to  Onondaga.  They  left  Fort  Stanwix  Ap. 
17,  landing  at  Fori  Brewerton  at  3  p.  m.  Ap.  20.  That  night 
they  camped  without  fires.     Next   morning  they  marched  early, 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  363 

fording  an  arm  of  Onondaga  lake,  both  wide  and  deep.  An 
Indian  was  captured  at  Onondaga  creek,  and  the  surprise  of  the 
three  towns  was  complete,  12  Indians  being  killed,  32  captured 
and  much  plunder  taken.  By  Ap.  24  all  were  in  Fort  Stanwix 
again,  with  much  spoil  and  little  glory. 

The  Oneidas  at  once  sent  to  know  the  reason  of  these  harsh 
measures,  and  the  Onondagas  made  a  manly  statement  of  their 
hard  case  and  severe  usage.  Their  chiefs  had  probably  done  the 
best  they  could.  Colonel  Van  Schaick  said  he  had^followed 
orders,  and  added  that  "  the  Onondagas  have  been  great  mur- 
derers; we  have  found  the  scalps  of  our  brethren  at  their  castle." 
At  a  later  day  their  treatment  has  seemed  unwise  and  unjust. 
It  turned  most  of  them  into  open  ioes,  though  Maj.  Jeremiah 
Fogg  said  the  following  September  that  some  Onondagas  were 
still  friendly.  In  fact,  Iroquois  history  is  full  of  a  forgiving 
spirit,  usually  preferring  atonement  to  revenge,  but,  when  chosen, 
revenge  was  terrible. 

About  this  time  attacks  were  made  at  Stone  Arabia,  Fort 
Plain  and  Schoharie,  with  slight  damage.  In  April  40  Indians 
attacked  and  burned  Lackawaxen  in  the  Delaware  valley. 
Whatever  the  Onondagas  may  have  done  before,  most  of  them 
were  now  hostile,  and  300  attacked  Cobleskill  and  drew  some 
troops  into  an  ambush,  where  22  were  killed.  Brant  destroyed 
Minisink,  July  20,  carrying  off  much  spoil.  Being  hotly  and 
rashly  pursued,  his  enemies  were  defeated  with  heavy  loss. 
Thence  he  made  a  brief  raid  on  the  Mohawk,  before  going  to 
Tioga.     Indian  hostilities  were  incessant  farther  south. 

General  Haldimand  had  a  conference  at  Quebec  Aug.  20,  with 
Teyohagweanda,  a  principal  Onondaga  chief,  and  three  Cayugas. 
They  asked  why  Oswego  was  not  occupied,  as  they  had  long 
wished.  He  explained,  adding  that  they  need  not  fear  the 
Americans  would  attack  their  country.  They  only  cared  to 
secure  their  frontiers,  but  he  would  advise  the  seven  nations  of 
Canada  to  join  the  Six  Nations  against  them. 

There  was  reason  for  their  fears,  for  Sullivan  was  even  then 
on  his  desolating  march.     General  Clinton   received   his  orders 


364  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

June  2,  arriving  at  Canajoharie  June  16,  where  were  1500  men. 
Thence  220  boats  were  taken  to  Otsego  lake,  the  water  of  which 
was  raised  by  a  dam.  This  being  opened,  the  fleet  went  swiftly 
down  the  swollen  stream.  The  sudden  and  mysterious  flood 
alarmed  the  Indians  much.  The  itinerary  is  briefly  this :  left 
Otsego  lake  Aug.  9;  destroyed  Aleout,  a  Scotch  settlement,  Aug. 
12,  and  passed  Unadilla,  burned  in  1778.  Aug.  13,  passed  Coni- 
hunto  or  Gunnygunter,  14  miles  below  Unadilla  and  burned  in 
1778.  Aug.  14,  reached  Onoquaga,  where  Butler  burned  60  good 
houses,  church  and  fort  in  1778.  Aug.  17,  burned  houses  at  the 
Tuscarora  village  3  miles  below,  the  Tuscarora  town  of  Shawhi- 
angto  a  mile  farther,  and  Ingaren,  another  Tuscarora  village  near 
( ireat  Bend.  Aug.  18,  Otsiningo  was  found  already  burned,  but 
some  houses  were  set  on  fire  below  the  Chenango  river.  Other 
houses  were  burned  next  day,  and  a  detachment  from  Sullivan 
was  met  at  Union,  which  had  burned  a  village  there  and  at 
Choconut.  In  the  evening  Owego  was  burned.  Aug.  22  Clinton 
joined  Sullivan  at  Tioga,  a  place  burned  in  1778.  Old  Chemung 
had  been  long  abandoned,  and  New  Chemung  was  burned 
Aug.  13,  while  Sullivan  waited  for  Clinton. 

The  march  was  resumed  Aug.  26,  and  Old  Chemung  reached 
next  day.  Another  village  was  destroyed  on  the  28th,  and  the 
enemy  was  found  well  fortified  at  Newtown,  below  Elmira.  The 
battle  was  well  contested  next  day,  but  the  Americans  routed  their 
foes  by  a  flank  movement,  afterward  destroying  the  town  and 
growing  corn.  The  British  reported  their  force  as  550  Indians 
and  250  troops,  and  said  Colonel  I  hitler  was  surrounded  and 
nearly  taken.  Brant  was  one  of  the  leaders,  and  a  letter  of  his 
just  before  is  of  interest.     It  was  dated  at  Chemung,  Aug.  19: 

I  am  deeply  afflicted.  John  Tayojaronsere,  my  trusty  chief, 
is  dead.  He  died  eight  days  after  he  was  wounded.  Five  met 
the  same  fate.  1  am  very  much  troubled  by  the  event,  because 
he  was  of  so  much  assistance  to  me.  I  destroyed  Onawatoge  a 
few  days  afterward.  We  were  overtaken  and  I  was  wounded  in 
the  foot  with  buck  shot,  but  it  is  of  small  consequence.  I  am 
almost  well.  We  are  in  daily  expectation  of  a  battle  which  we 
think-    will   be   a   severe   one.     We    expect   to   number  about   700 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  365 

men.  .  .  Then  we  shall  begin  to  know  what  is  to  become  of 
the  People  of  the  Long  House.  Our  minds  have  not  changed. 
We  are  determined  to  fight  the  Bostonians. 

Aug.  31  the  army  was  put  in  light  marching  order  and  Middle- 
town,  Kannawaloholla  and  scattered  houses  were  burned,  as  well 
as  a  village  at  Big  Flats.  Sep.  i,  Catharine's  Town,  or  Sheo- 
quaga,  was  reached  3  miles  from  Seneca  lake,  and  it  was 
destroyed  Sep.  3.  Another  small  place  was  burned  next  day  and 
Kendaia  on  the  6th.  The  latter  had  20  houses  and  some  curious 
tombs.    The  day  before  a  Cayuga  hamlet  was  burned. 

Sep.  7,  the  Seneca  castle  of  Kanadesaga  was  reached,  iy2  miles 
northwest  of  Seneca  lake.  It  had  60  good  houses  and  an  old 
stockade.  Next  day  20  houses  were  burned  at  Kashong  or  Goth- 
sinquean,  a  few  miles  south,  and  Skoiyase,  or  Long  Falls,  was  also 
destroyed,  where  Waterloo  now  stands.  This  had  18  houses. 
Sep.  10  about  30  fine  houses  were  burned  at  Canandaigua.  Next 
day  Anyayea,  or  Honeoye,  was  reached  and  its  10  houses  spared 
for  present  use.  The  name  meant  Finger  Lying,  an  Indian  hav- 
ing lost  a  finger  there. 

Sep.  13  they  reached  Adjuste,  or  Kanaghsaws,  now  Conesus, 
the  home  of  Big  Tree.  Its  25  houses  were  burned  and  eight  more 
at  Little  Castle.  At  night  the  army  reached  Gaghsegwarohare 
with  22  houses.  That  day  Lieutenant  Boyd  was  captured,  with 
another  man,  13  of  his  party  being  found  dead,  with  Han  Yost, 
his  Oneida  guide.  The  brother  of  the  latter,  after  his  capture, 
told  him  he  was  worthy  of  death,  but  he  left  it  to  Little  Beard 
to  slay  him.  Boyd  and  his  companion  were  terribly  tortured  in 
the  Seneca  capital. 

Chenussio,  or  Geneseo,  was  reached  Sep.  14.  It  was  west  of 
the  river  and  had  128  fine  houses,  all  of  which  were  destroyed, 
with  about  15,000  bushels  of  corn.  The  remains  of  Boyd  and 
Parker  were  found  there  and  buried  with  military  honors. 
Thence  the  return  inarch  began.  Honeoye  was  destroyed,  and 
at  Kanadesaga  parties  were  detached,  one  for  Albany  and  two 
against  the  Cayuga  towns.  Colonel  Butler  retired  to  Kana- 
waugus,  which  was  not  taken. 


366  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Sep.  21  Lieut.  Col.  Henry  Dearborn  marched  to  the  west  side 
of  Cayuga  lake,  destroying  a  hamlet  of  three  houses,  but  leaving 
another  of  15  houses,  which  was  out  of  the  way.  One  of  10 
houses  was  burned  near  the  lake,  and  Skannayutenate  and  another 
hamlet  near  the  present  Canoga.  A  new  town  of  nine  houses 
was  burned  farther  south.  Sep.  22  they  came  to  Swahyawanah, 
a  village  burned  before,  and  destroyed  three  remaining  houses. 
Scattered  houses  were  burned  and  crops  destroyed  from  day  to 
day.  Sep.  24  a  dozen  houses  were  burned  at  the  head  of  Cayuga 
lake,  and  25  houses  were  destroyed  at  Coreorgonel  or  Dehoris- 
kanadia,  3  miles  south.  Sep.  26  Dearborn  joined  the  army  at 
Kannawaloholla. 

Sep.  20  Lieut.  Col.  William  Butler  set  out  with  500  men,  com- 
pleting the  destruction  of  Skoiyase  next  day.  Near  the  outlet  of 
Cayuga  lake  he  burned  Choharo  or  Thiohero,  reaching  the  vil- 
lage of  Gewauga  at  night,  near  Union  Springs.  Sep.  22  Cayuga 
Castle  was  destroyed,  with  15  houses  of  squared  logs,  Upper 
Cayuga,  with  14  large  houses,  and  East  Cayuga,  with  13  houses, 
the  destruction  of  houses  and  crops  lasting  till  the  next  afternoon. 
Sep.  23,  Chonodote,  or  Peach  Town,  on  the  site  of  Aurora,  was 
reached  at  night,  and  its  14  large  houses,  crops  and  peachtrees 
were  destroyed  next  day.  Sep.  28  the  army  was  joined.  It  should 
be  remembered  that  Iroquois  houses  held  several  families. 

The  main  body  had  returned  to  Kannawaloholla,  now  Elmira, 
killing  a  number  of  horses  on  the  way,  whence  we  have  the  name 
of  1  Forscheads.  Resting  at  Fort  Reed  awhile,  successful  parties 
were  sent  up  the  Chemung  and  Tioga.  Sep.  30  the  army  reached 
Fort  Sullivan  at  'Tioga,  having  burned  40  villages  and  destroyed 
200,000  bushels  of  corn,  besides  fruit  trees.  While  there,  Oct.  2, 
an  entertainment  was  concluded  with  an  Indian  dance.  Next 
day,  said  Lieut.  Ool.  A.dam  llnbley, 

The  young  Sachem,  with  several  <  Ineida  Indians,  relatives  and 
friends  of  the  unfortunate  Indian  llanjost,  who  bravely  fell  witli 
the  party  under  command  of  the  much  lamented  Lieut.  Hoyd  on 
the  13th  ult.,  who  faithfully  acted  as  guide  to  the  army,  left  us 
this  day,  well  pleased,  (after  bestowing  some  presents  on  them,) 
for  their  native  place,  the  Oneida  country. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  367 

Colonel  Gansevoort  was  sent  to  Fort  Stanwix  with  ioo  men. 
Under  orders,  he  went  thence  to  the  lower  Mohawk  castle  and 
made  all  prisoners  there.  These  "  Indians  lived  much  better 
than  most  of  the  Mohawk  River  farmers."  General  Schuyler 
remonstrated,  because  of  their  peaceable  disposition  and  the 
pledged  public  faith.  They  were  soon  released.  This  party 
camped  at  Skoiyase  the  first  night,  and  the  next  at  Owasco  lake, 
passing  Skaneateles  lake  and  reaching  the  deserted  Onondaga 
village  the  following  evening.  The  next  camp  was  6  miles  east 
of  Canaseraga,  and  Fort  Stanwix  was  reached  Sep.  24. 

Aug.  11  Colonel  Brodhead  left  Pittsburg  against  the  Senecas 
and  Mingoes  on  the  Allegheny  river.  A  skirmish  took  place 
before  he  reached  Cannowago,  which  had  been  long  deserted. 
Other  Indian  towns  were  abandoned  as  he  advanced  and  were 
burned.  The  upper  Seneca  town  Yoghroonwago  was  destroyed 
with  others.  In  this  march  of  400  miles  not  a  man  was  lost,  and 
135  large  cabins  were  burned,  each  holding  several  families. 
There  were  indications  that  all  these  Senecas  were  preparing  to 
remove.  The  Iroquois  were  in  great  distress  through  the  winter, 
many  dying  from  pestilence.  Other  nations  were  awed  and 
began  to  treat  for  peace. 

Except  in  the  loss  of  life,  for  Sullivan's  morning  and  evening 
guns  kept  the  Indians  at  a  safe  distance,  these  expeditions  differed 
in  no  respect  from  the  Indian  raids  on  the  frontier,  and  gave  to 
Washington  and  his  successors  the  name  of  Ha-no-da-ga'-nears, 
Destroyer  of  Towns,  one  name  of  some  French  governors.  Corn- 
planter  spoke  of  this  in  his  pathetic  speech  to  Washington  in 
1790: 

When  your  army  entered  the  country  of  the  Six  Nations  we 
called  you  the  Town  Destroyer ;  and  to  this  day,  when  that  name 
is  heard,  our  women  look  behind  them  and  turn  pale,  and  our 
children  cling  close  to  the  necks  of  their  mothers.  Our  coun- 
cilors and  warriors  are  men,  and  can  not  be  afraid;  but  their 
hearts  are  grieved  with  the  fears  of  our  women  and  children, 
and  desire  that  it  may  be  buried  so  deep  as  to  be  heard  no  more. 
When   you  gave  us  peace,  we   called  you   father,   because  you 


368  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

promised  to  secure  us  in  the  possession  of  our  lands.  Do  this, 
and  so  long  as  the  lands  shall  remain,  that  beloved  name  will 
live  in  the  heart  of  every  Seneca. 

Oct.  10  Col.  Guy  and  Sir  John  Johnson  left  Sodus  bay  for 
Oswego  with  a  considerable  force,  accompanied  by  Brant  and 
his  Indians.  The  Canadian  Indians  refused  to  go  against  the 
Oneidas  or  Fort  Stanwix,  and  all  went  into  winter  quarters, 
Colonel  Johnson  returning  to  Niagara,  where  2628  Indians 
remained  in  October,  and  about  1000  white  refugees.  There 
were  5036  there  Sep.  21,  to  be  fed,  but  parties  went  out  on  raids. 
Johnson  said  these  Indians  "  will  no  longer  wear  tinsel  lace,  and 
are  become  good  judges  of  gold  and  silver." 

A  party  attacked  German  Flats  in  February  1780,  and  in  March 
another  did  some  damage  at  Palatine.  In  April  Brant  surprised 
and  burned  Harpersfield,  but  treated  the  prisoners  well.  Colonel 
Harper  gave  him  false  information  about  Schoharie,  which 
deterred  him  from  raiding  that  region,  but  part  of  his  men  entered 
Ulster  county,  taking  some  prisoners,  who  afterward  killed  their 
captors  and  escaped. 

In  May  Sir  John  Johnson  entered  the  Mohawk  valley  with  500 
men,  few  of  whom  were  Indians,  coming  by  way  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain  and  reaching  Johnstown  May  21.  There  his  force  divided, 
one  party  going  to  Tribes  Hill  and  Cayadutta  creek,  doing  much 
damage.  Butler  and  Brant  were  also  busy  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river.  In  June  all  the  Canaseraga  Tuscaroras  went  over  to 
the  enemy,  and  "  two  families  of  the  Oneidas,  with  all  the  Onon- 
dagas  who  had  joined  us  since  the  capture  of  their  village." 
I  Ither  Oneidas  followed,  but  most  remained.  Col.  Guy  Johnson 
said  that  500  (  >neidas  came  that  year,  ready  to  fight  the  Ameri- 
cans. "The  last  party  that  arrived  delivered  up  to  the  Superin- 
tendent a  commission  which,  he  says,  'the  Rebels  had  issued 
with  a  view  to  form  the  Oneidas  into  a  corps.  .  .  they  also 
delivered  up  to  me  the   Rebel  flag.'" 

Sehoiiendoh  and  Meter  were  then  prisoners  at  Niagara,  but  a 
family  who  returned  in  December  said  that  Brant,  Schonendoh 
and  Peter  persuaded  them  to  go.     This  would  seem  to  he  Sken- 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  369 

andoah,  who  Abraham  Denne  told  Schoolcraft  "  was  a  tory  in  the 
war,  notwithstanding  his  high  name."  In  1777  he  was  one  of 
four  mentioned  who  refused  to  go  to  Niagara  and  has  been  con- 
sidered an  American  partizan.  The  testimony  to  this  seems  com- 
plete and  unanswerable.  The  Oneidas,  being  threatened,  now 
asked  a  refuge  for  their  families  among  the  whites,  and  they  were 
placed  near  Schenectady  till  the  end  of  the  war. 

In  July  Brant,  with  600  Indians  and  200  white  men,  cut  off 
communication  between  Fort  Stanwix  and  German  Flats,  cap- 
turing 53  men.  That  month  Colonel  Johnson  reported  that  330 
Oneidas  had  joined  him,  100  being  men,  and  70  had  been  con- 
tinually with  his  war  parties.  He  was  told  that  those  with  the 
Americans  would  soon  follow.  In  June  the  Indians  had  killed 
or  captured  156  persons  and  destroyed  much  property,  and  all 
had  "  been  effected  without  acts  of  cruelty."  The  Six  Nations 
numbered  1600  men,  exclusive  of  those  southward.  Of  these, 
1200  were  warriors,  and  836  were  then  in  service.  The  next  year 
he  said  they  had  distinguished  themselves  more  than  usual,  and 
there  were  generally  500  in  the  field. 

Aug.  2  Brant  attacked  Canajoharie  with  450  Indians,  burning 
most  of  the  houses,  killing  14  persons,  and  taking  50  prisoners 
there,  as  well  as  several  hundred  head  of  cattle.  The  militia  were 
up  the  river,  guarding  boats.  In  all  he  killed  24  and  took  73 
persons.  That  month  General  Schuyler  sent  five  Caughnawagas 
and  13  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  to  visit  the  French  in  Rhode 
Island.     They  were  well  received  and  were  given  French  medals. 

Sir  John  Johnson  invaded  Schoharie  valley  in  September.  He 
and  Brant  were  joined  at  Unadilla  by  Cornplanter  and  the  Sen- 
ecas,  the  united  force  being  about  1500  men.  They  attacked  the 
Middleburg  fort,  but  failed  to  take  it.  Going  thence,  they  ravaged 
the  Schoharie  valley  and  both  sides  of  the  Mohawk.  At  Stone 
Arabia  Colonel  Brown  was  killed  with  40  Americans.  General 
Van  Rensselaer  pursued,  attacked  and  defeated  Sir  John  at 
Klock's  Field,  but  he  escaped  in  the  night.  One  incident  of  his 
retreat  was  the  capture  of  Captain  Vrooman's  party  at  the 
old  stockade  at  Canaseraga,  now  Chittenango  creek.     They  had 


370  NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

destroyed  some  of  his  boats  there,  near  what  was  known  as  the 
turtle  tree. 

Brant's  Indians  were  about  German  Flats  in  January  1781, 
and  all  through  the  spring  it  was  the  same,  there  being  depreda- 
tions at  Minisink,  Currietown,  Cherry  Valley  and  elsewhere.  In 
that  year  Col.  Marinus  Willett  took  command  and  changed  the 
situation.  Brant  had  intended  to  attack  the  Oneidas  in  their 
new  quarters  in  March,  but  did  not  do  so.  On  the  contrary,  in 
July  Colonel  Willett  attacked  and  defeated  an  Indian  force  under 
Ouackack,  killing  40.  In  August  there  was  an  Indian  raid  in 
Ulster  county,  and  Wawarsing  was  burned.  Cobleskill  was  also 
attacked,  but  in  October  Willett  drove  the  enemy  from  the  valley. 

Brant  and  Major  Ross  did  some  damage  south  of  the  Mohawk 
that  month,  and  Majors  Ross  and  Butler  came  to  Johnstown 
Oct.  24,  by  way  of  Oswego  and  Oneida  lake.  Colonel  Willett 
reached  Fort  Hunter  the  next  morning,  going  in  pursuit  as  soon 
as  he  could  cross  the  river.  A  battle  followed,  continuing  till 
dark,  with  varying  fortune,  when  Butler  retreated.  Willett  was 
joined  by  60  Oneidas  and  started  up  West  Canada  creek  in  hot 
pursuit.  A  running  fight  followed,  and  Walter  Butler  was  killed 
by  an  Oneida,  his  forces  were  defeated  and  many  prisoners  were 
made.  Some  escaped  into  the  wilderness,  destitute  of  provisions. 
A  party  sent  to  Oneida  lake  to  destroy  Butler's  boats,  failed  of 
doing  this,  but  they  were  not  wanted. 

The  British  at  Detroit  were  not  favorable  to  the  neighboring 
Moravian  Indian  towns,  and  in  1781  applied  to  the  Six  Nations 
at  Niagara  for  their  removal.  They  sent  word  to  the  Ottawas 
and  Ojibwas:  "  We  make  you  a  present  of  the  Christian  Indians 
to  make  soup  of;"  but  neither  they  nor  the  Wyandots  would 
interfere.  Not  long  after  many  of  them  were  treacherously 
destroyed. 

In  1782  a  party  of  35  Indians  took  some  prisoners  at  Palatine, 
carrying  them  to  Canada,  but  they  were  soon  released,  war  being 
practically  ended  on  the  Mohawk  river. 

In  February  1783  Colonel  Willett  made  an  attempt  to  capture 
Osw<  tiding  a  party   from   Canajoharie   in   sleighs.      They 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  37 1 

crossed  Oneida  lake  on  the  ice,  but  the  Indian  guides  lost  their 
way  and  the  attempt  failed. 

Captain  Dalton  made  an  estimate  in  August  of  that  year  of  the 
number  of  Indians  employed  on  the  British  side  in  the  war.  Of 
the  New  York  Iroquois  there  were  300  Mohawks,  150  Oneidas, 
200  Tuscaroras,  200  Onondagas,  230  Cayugas  and  400  Senecas, 
or  1480  in  all.  While  some  of  these  estimates  are  high,  that  of 
the  Senecas  is  too  low. 

Chapter  25 

Peace  proclaimed.  Mohawks  remain  in  Canada.  Treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix. 
Pennsylvania  commissioners.  Brant  in  England.  Frontier  posts  retained. 
Western  councils.  Brant  and  Delawares.  Seneca  chiefs  in  Philadelphia. 
Colonel  Proctor  in  the  Seneca  towns.  Pickering's  council.  St  Clair's  de- 
feat. Iroquois  chiefs  at  Philadelphia.  Council  at  An  Glaize.  Council  at 
Buffalo  creek.  Governor  Simcoe.  Wayne's  victory.  Indians  make  peace. 
Land  treaty  with  the  United  States.  Later  treaties  with  New  York  com- 
panies or  persons.  Delaware  Indians  made  men.  Ganeodiyo,  the  peace 
prophet.  Temperance  reform  and  organizations.  Red  Jacket.  Farmer's 
Brother.  Six  Nations  declare  war  against  Great  Britain.  Council  at  Onon- 
daga.    Captain  Pollard  leader  at  Chippewa. 

Peace  was  proclaimed  in  1783,  but  Great  Britain  made  no  terms 
for  her  Indian  allies,  nor  were  they  secured  in  their  lands  included 
in  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States.  The  Mohawks  had  been 
promised  better  treatment.  They  remained  awhile  on  the  Ameri- 
can side  at  Niagara,  and  the  Senecas  offered  them  land  in  the 
Genesee  valley,  but  they  did  not  wish  to  remain  in  New  York. 
Governor  Haldimand  agreed  to  purchase  and  convey  to  them  a 
tract  on  the  Bay  of  Quinte,  selected  by  Brant.  The  Senecas 
wanted  them  nearer,  and  Haldimand  was  asked  to  secure  them  a 
tract  of  1200  square  miles,  extending  6  miles  on  each  side  of 
Grand  river.  This  was  promised  and  the  grant  was  formally 
made  in  1784.  Brant  and  some  Mohawks  moved  there;  and, 
though  much  has  been  sold,  portions  of  all  the  Six  Nations  still 
live  there  under  their  old  laws  and  with  a  full  corps  of  chiefs. 

A  disposition  was  shown  at  the  end  of  the  war  to  expel  the 
New  York  Iroquois;  but  Washington  and  Schuyler  at  once 
opposed  this,  and  their  desire  for  a  more  liberal  policy  happily 
prevailed.     The  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  was  held  in  1784,  all  the 


3/2  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Six  Nations  being  represented  and  the  Seneca  Abeals  or  Corn- 
planter's  party.  The  brief  treaty,  as  signed,  has  alone  been  pre- 
served. The  hatchet  was  buried  by  all.  The  Oneidas  and  Tus- 
caroras  were  secured  in  the  possession  of  their  lands,  the  former 
making  large  claims.  The  Six  Nations  unwillingly  gave  up  most 
of  the  territory  not  occupied  by  them.  It  was  gained  and  lost 
by  the  sword. 

Cornplanter  brought  about  this  treaty,  with  which  the  Indians 
were  dissatisfied,  and  Red  Jacket  took  advantage  of  this  to 
increase  his  own  popularity.  Brant  was  also  displeased  and  gave 
up  a  proposed  visit  to  England  to  attend  to  the  matter,  not  liking 
the  detention  of  a  Mohawk  chief  sent  by  him.  The  American 
commissioners  were  Oliver  Wolcott,  Richard  Butler  and  Arthur 
Lee.  Some  Pennsylvania  commissioners  were  also  at  this 
treaty,  on  state  affairs,  and  found  the  usual  delays.  At  last  four 
of  the  Iroquois  nations  began  the  council ;  but  "  the  Business, 
in  our  Opinion,  would  not  have  commenced  so  soon  had  it  not 
been  at  the  instance  of  the  Marquis  De  la  Fayette,  who  wished 
to  address  the  Indians,  and  was  under  the  necessity  of  departing 
this  day  or  to-morrow."  He  was  very  plain  spoken.  "  Their 
Answer  was  pertinent,  and  breathed  the  spirit  of  peace.  The 
Mohawks,  in  particular,  declared  their  repentance  for  the  Errors 
which  they  had  committed."  These  commissioners  were  suc- 
cessful in  their  business,  and  at  successive  treaties  all  the 
Indian  lands  in  Pennsylvania  were  purchased  except  Cornplant- 
er's  reservation. 

Brant  soon  after  visited  the  western  Indians,  probably  with  a 
view  to  a  confederacy,  and  then  went  to  England  in  1785.  The 
London  papers  said  he  had  presided  at  a  great  council  of  many 
nations,  and  had  been  appointed  to  conduct  a  proposed  war 
against  the  United  States.  lie  secured  payment  of  Mohawk 
claims  from  the  British  government  the  next  year,  and  edited  a 
superb  edition  of  the  Mohawk  prayer  book.  Another  had  been 
issued    in   Canada  during  the   war. 

The  British  still  retained  the  frontier  posts  and  encouraged  the 
hostility  of  the  Indians.      In  I  >ecember  1786  a  great  Indian  coun- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW   YORK    IROQUOIS  ?>7Z 

cil  was  held  on  Detroit  river,  at  which  the  western  Indians  and 
Six  Nations  were  represented.  An  address  sent  to  Congress  may 
have  been  written  by  Brant,  encouraged  by  Sir  John  Johnson. 
At  the  head  of  this  were  the  signatures  of  the  Six  Nations.  The 
British  now  strengthened  the  forts,  and  the  Indians  became  more 
hostile  to  the  Americans. 

In  January  1788  the  Hurons  sent  the  Six  Nations  word  that 
they  had  no  answer  from  the  United  States,  and  wished  them  to 
attend  the  next  general  council,  as  promised.  This  met  in 
October,  when  Brant's  views  were  more  pacific,  as  the  Mohawks 
alone  might  adhere  to  the  British  side.  In  July  he  had  also  made 
a  bargain  with  the  "  Lessee  Company,"  leasing  lands  in  western 
New  York,  and  prospective  profit  cooled  his  military  ardor. 
This  long  lease  was  afterward  abrogated  by  New  York  as  illegal. 

In  January  1789  General  St  Clair  made  separate  treaties  with 
some  of  the  western  Indians,  which  destroyed  the  plan  of  a  great 
confederacy.  One  took  in  all  the  Iroquois  but  the  Mohawks, 
and  another,  six  other  nations.  In  his  journal  of  Feb.  4,  1789, 
David  Zeisberger  said  ■ 

Brant  had  for  some  years  secretly  labored  to  extirpate  the 
Delawares,  and  on  this  account  had  urged  the  Chippewas,  Tawas, 
etc.,  to  begin  war  with  them.  This  plan,  secretly  formed,  became 
manifest  last  summer,  and  at  the  same  time  found  its  end,  for 
it  came  to  nought.  He  then  worked  for  this,  that  the  nations 
should  begin  war  afresh  with  the  States,  with  the  hope  that  in 
this  the  Delawares  would  be  extirpated. 

He  also  opposed  the  Moravian  Indians,  saying,  "  it  were  better 
they  were  blotted  from  the  surface  of  the  earth ;  they  caused  only 
unrest  among  the  other  Indians."  Afterward  he  favored  them. 
In  1790  the  Senecas  aided  the  western  tribes  who  defeated 
General  Harmar,  but  these  were  personal  acts. 

The  Seneca  chiefs,  Cornplanter,  Half  Town  and  Great  Tree, 
were  with  Washington  in  Philadelphia  in  December  1790,  stay- 
ing several  weeks.  Great  Tree  may  have  remembered  their 
unceremonious  departure  in   1778,  when  they  said  at  this  time: 

Father :  No  Seneca  ever  goes  from  the  fire  of  his  friend,  until 
he  has  said  to  him,  "  I  am  going."  We  therefore  tell  you  that 
we  are  now  setting  out  for  our  own  country. 


374  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

Father :  We  thank  you  from  our  hearts  that  we  now  know 
that  there  is  a  country  we  may  call  our  own,  and  on  which  we 
may  lay  down  in  peace.  We  see  that  there  will  be  peace  between 
your  children  and  our  children,  and  our  hearts  are  very  glad. 

Two  years  later  Great  Tree  died  in  Philadelphia.  Col.  Thomas 
Proctor  was  at  Buffalo  Ap.  27  to  May  23,  1791,  but  with  little 
success.  His  journal  is  full  of  interesting-  details  and  he  visited 
several  Indian  towns.  Beside  those  at  Buffalo  creek,  he  men- 
tioned Squawkie  Hill,  Nondas,  Canaseder,  Ohhishew  or  Dune- 
wangua,  Tenacnshagouchtongu  or  Burnt  House,  Cayantha  or 
Cornfields,  Venango,  Cattaragus,  Carrahadeer,  Hiskhue  and 
Coneyat.  These  Seneca  towns  are  as  spelled  by  him.  About 
IWiffalo  were  more  than  170  well  built  cabins,  and  the  Onondagas 
had  a  village  there.  The  Indians  there  were  under  British  con- 
trol, well  clothed  and  fed.  The  chiefs  refused  to  send  deputies 
with  him  to  the  Miamis,  but  the  women  interfered,  Red  Jacket 
speaking  for  them,  and  delegates  were  appointed.  The  refusal 
of  a  vessel  by  the  British  forced  Proctor  to  abandon  the  trip,  and 
he  found  that  Young  King  and  Farmer's  Brother  were  both  on 
the  British  side,  as  most  of  the  Indians  were. 

Col.  Timothy  Pickering  held  a  successful  council  at  Elmira 
X.  Y.,  in  June  1791.  It  was  appointed  for  Tainted  Post,  where 
an  earlier  council  had  been  held,  but  Newtown,  now  Elmira,  was 
more  accessible  for  boats.  There  were  200  Onondaga  and  Oneida 
warriors  present,  with  082  Senecas.  and  it  was  agreed  to  send 
chiefs  to   Philadelphia  the  next  year. 

St  Clair's  defeat  happened  that  year,  and  Stone  supposed  that 
Brant  was  there  with  150  Mohawks.  It  is  not  improbable,  for  he 
was  at  a  western  war  council  that  year  and  spoke  in  behalf  oi  the 
Moravian  Indians:  "  Why  should  we  wish  to  compel  them  to  go 
to  war?  .  .  .  Let  them  be,  and  disturb  them  not."  This 
victory  greatly  elated  the  young  Indian  warriors,  and  Xeisberger 
wrote,  Sep.  28:  "  Warriors  came  here,  going  to  the  war.  We 
heard  that  all  Cornplanter's  young  people  had  left  him  and  gone 
to  the   Miami  to  take  part   in  the  war."     Me  was  but  a  war  chief. 

In  this  year  we  have  again  a  glimpse  of  the  female  part  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  375 

Montour  family,  but  without  a  hint  of  the  traditional  Queen 
Esther.  The  male  members  often  appear.  Zeisberger  wrote  at 
the  Moravian  towns  Jan.  4,  1791  : 

A  Mohawk  Indian  woman,  Mary  Montour,  sister  of  Cathrine, 
and  of  the  former  Andrew  Montour,  who  came  here  not  long 
ago,  upon  her  request  and  desire,  got  leave  to  be  a  dweller  here. 
She  knows  how  to  speak  many  languages,  for  example,  Mohawk, 
her  mother  tongue,  Wyandot,  Ottawa,  Chippewa,  Shawano,  Dela- 
ware, English  and  French.  Her  sister,  Cathrine,  and  several  of 
her  friends,  live  not  far  from  Niagara  over  the  lake,  and  we  have 
already  many  times  heard  that  she  would  like  to  be  here,  for 
John  Cook,  her  son,  is  here. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland  was  sent  to  the  Genesee  country  to 
conduct  50  chiefs  to  Philadelphia,  which  they  reached  Mar.  13, 
1792.  The  large  silver  medals  given  them  that  year  are  well 
known,  and  the  meeting  was  mutually  satisfactory.  Brant  was 
not  there  till  after  the  council,  arriving  June  20.  He  refused  some 
fine  offers,  but  undertook  a  peace  embassy  to  the  Miami  coun- 
try. Being  sick,  he  sent  the  messages  by  his  son,  intending  to 
follow  soon.  As  he  passed  through  the  Moravian  towns,  Sep. 
29,  he  said,  "if  he  came  to  the  Miami  and  found  the  Indians 
disinclined  for  peace,  he  should  straightway  turn  back  home." 
When  he  returned  in  November,  he  said  nothing  was  concluded, 
but  there  would  be  a  council  at  Sandusky  in  the  spring. 

Cornplanter  and  48  other  Iroquois  also  attended  this  council 
at  Au  Glaize  on  the  Miami,  and  there  were  30  Iroquois  chiefs 
from  Canada.  The  peace  embassy  was  not  well  received  by 
the  western  Indians,  but  harmony  was  restored,  and  it  was  agreed 
to  meet  the  United  States  in  council  at  the  rapids  of  the  Miami 
the  next  spring.  They  would  be  peaceable  till  then  if  the  troops 
were  withdrawn  from  the  western  side  of  the  Ohio,  but  did  send 
out  300  warriors.  On  the  return  of  the  New  York  chiefs,  a  grand 
council  of  the  Six  Nations  was  held  at  Buffalo,  the  acts  of  the 
western  council  were  related,  and  a  speech  was  sent  to  the 
president. 

Hostilities  were  frequent  along  the  frontier  through  the  win- 
ter, and  the  western  Indians  held  a  preliminary  council  in  Feb- 


376  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

ruary  1793,  sending  a  very  explicit  message  to  the  Six  Nations, 
to  be  forwarded  to  President  Washington.  They  insisted  on  the 
Ohio  as  a  boundary,  and  would  hold  another  private  council 
before  the  public  meeting.  When  the  latter  took  place,  the 
Indians  were  divided,  most  wishing  peace.  The  minority  got  in 
a  deceptive  message,  and  the  others  determined  that  those  who 
wished  war  might  fight  it  out  alone.  Peace  measures  failing, 
the  United  States  commissioners  at  once  returned  without  reach- 
ing the  council. 

On  this  occasion  some  Onondaga  friends  of  Zeisberger  told 
him  that  "  they  no  longer  live  in  Onondaga,  where  there  are  now 
only  twelve  or  thirteen  families,  but  over  the  lake  at  Buffalo 
creek."  They  said  they  had  been  betrayed  at  this  council. 
Brant  was  there  with  many  Mohawks.  In  fact  the  commission- 
ers never  were  at  the  council,  the  British  officers  at  Detroit  refus- 
ing to  let  them  go  till  they  were  sent  for,  but  otherwise  treating 
them  courteously.  They  left  Philadelphia  Feb.  27,  1793,  were 
detained  at  Niagara  for  several  weeks,  where  a  conference  was 
held,  and  the  Indians  sent  their  reply  Aug.  13,  without  per- 
mitting them  to  appear.  All  present  signed  the  reply  except  the 
Six  Nations,  but  the  Senecas  of  the  Glaize  signed  with  the  totem 
of  the  Turtle.  Brant  was  surprised  to  find  the  British  opposing 
articles  of  peace. 

On  the  return  of  the  chiefs  a  council  was  held  at  the  Onon- 
daga village  on  Buffalo  creek,  Oct.  8,  to  which  both  English  and 
Americans  were  invited.  Clear  Sky,  an  Onondaga  chief,  opened 
the  council,  and  all  the  belts  were  produced  and  speeches 
rehearsed.  On  the  next  day  Brant  was  present  and  spoke,  say- 
ing that  land  claims  "  always  have  been,  and  still  continue  to  be, 
the  cause  of  war."  He  made  a  proposition  which  he  thought 
might  secure  peace,  and  it  was  "  the  general  wish  of  the  Six 
Nations  that  General  Chapin,  himself,  will  proceed  with  the 
speech  to  Congress."  This  he  did,  and  another  council  was  pro- 
posed at  Venango  in  the  spring.  This  was  reported  at  a  council 
held  at  Buffalo  creek  Feb.  7,  1794,  but  was  not  acceptable,  as  a 
direct  answer  on  the  boundary  line  was  desired. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  ,        377 

Governor  Simcoe  kept  hostile  feelings  alive,  and  in  April  1794 
he  went  from  Detroit  to  the  foot  of  the  Maumee  rapids  and  began 
building  a  fort  on  American  territory.  The  western  Indians 
said  he  supplied  them  with  all  things  red,  and  would  aid  them 
with  1500  men.  A  Spanish  agent  also  came  to  stir  them  up  and 
offer  aid.  The  Americans  prepared  for  war,  and  some  things 
happened  to  alienate  the  Six  Nations  from  them.  Cornplanter 
and  others  had  sold  Presque  Isle  to  Pennsylvania,  and  it  prepared 
to  take  possession  contrary  to  their  wish,  as  they  claimed  that 
the  sale  was  irregular.  General  Gibson  wrote  to  Governor  Mif- 
flin June  11,  1794,  "  From  every  account,  I  have  every  reason  to 
believe  the  Six  Nations  mean  to  be  hostile."  Cornplanter  thought 
war  certain,  and  bragged  of  what  he  would  do  against  the  Ameri- 
cans, but  Washington  wished  to  avoid  trouble  and  proposed  a 
council.     June  27  General  Wilkins  said  of  the  Six  Nations: 

Our  peace  or  war  with  them  depends  on  our  being  in  peace  or 
war  with  the  English.  The  Senecas,  who  are  the  best  dispqsed 
of  any  of  the  Six  Nation  tribes,  say  that  the  English  have  bought 
over  all  the  other  tribes,  but  that  they  are  determined  to  be 
neutral ;  but  if  there  is  an  English  war,  their  neutrality  is  not 
to  be  depended  on. 

Wayne's  victory  turned  the  scale,  and  Washington's  prudent 
measures  averted  local  trouble.  In  Wayne  the  Indians  found  a 
sleepless  foe,  wise  and  watchful.  Their  attempt  to  capture  one 
of  his  trains,  June  30,  was  defeated,  and  he  marched  on.  July 
20,  1794,  he  completely  routed  them  at  Maumee  rapids,  pursuing 
the  enemy  and  destroying  everything  of  theirs  under  the  walls 
of  the  British  fort.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  Indians  revived 
the  name  of  Long  Knives  for  the  Americans.  In  contemporane- 
ous accounts  these  rapids  are  always  called  those  of  the  Miami. 

Brant  was  not  there,  but  he  and  many  Mohawks  went  west- 
ward in  September.  He  then  "  said  he  went  to  the  war  unwill- 
ingly, but  he  was  compelled,  and  must  go,  for  war  was  contrived 
merely  for  this,  to  exterminate  the  Indians."  Some  Senecas  and 
Onondagas  were  there.  Oheknugh,  an  Onondaga  chief,  was 
slain,  but  Oundiaga  and  some  of  his  warriors  escaped, 


37^  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

Peace  was  not  made  at  once,  Brant  and  Governor  Simcoe 
opposing  it,  but  the  Indians  at  last  grew  weary  and  made  peace 
with  Wayne  on  his  own  terms.  In  1795  the  difficulties  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  were  settled,  and  the  latter 
no  longer  aided  the  Indians. 

About  the  end  of  the  century,  before  and  after,  there  were 
many  Iroquois  land  sales  in  New  York,  all  described  in  The 
Indian  Problem  of  1889.  That  of  1784  was  a  treaty  with  the 
United  States,  in  which  a  boundary  line  was  drawn  : 

From  the  mouth  of  a  creek  about  four  mileseast  of  Niagara, 
called  Oyonwayea,  or  Johnston's  landing  place,  upon  the  lake 
named  by  the  Indians  Oswego,  and  by  us  Ontario ;  from  thence 
southerly  in  a  direction  always  four  miles  east  of  the  carrying 
path  between  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  to  the  mouth  of  Teho- 
seroron,  or  Buffalo  creek,  on  Lake  Erie;  thence  south  to  the 
north  boundary  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania ;  thence  west  to 
the  end  of  the  said  north  boundary ;  thence  south  along  the  west 
boundary  of  the  said  State  to  the  river  Ohio ;  the  said  line  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Oyonwayea  to  the  Ohio  shall  be  the  western 
boundary  of  the  lands  of  the  Six  Nations. 

This  outside  territory  had  been  gained  by  conquest  and  was 
practically  lost  by  war.  The  lands  west  of  this  line  were  sur- 
rendered to  the  United  States  and  those  east  and  north  were 
reserved  for  the  Six  Nations,  except  6  miles  square  about  the 
fort  at  Oswego.  This  was  reaffirmed  at  the  treaty  of  Fort  Har- 
mar,  June  5,  1789,  but  the  Mohawks  were  left  out  and  the  Onei- 
das  and  Tuscaroras  were  confirmed  in  their  land  titles.  Crim- 
inal offenses  would  be  punished  by  state  law,  but  much  was  left 
to  the  Indians  themselves.  In  Judge  Marshall's  words  they  were 
interior  dependent  nations. 

The  treaty  of  Jan.  21,  1705,  acknowledged  the  Oneida,  Onon 
daga,  and  Cayuga  reservations  and  specified  the  Seneca  boun- 
daries, besides  securing  a  right  of  passage.  \  special  treaty  was 
made  at  the  same  time  with  the  Oneida.  Tnscarora  and  Stock- 
bridge  Indians,  recompensing  them  For  losses  in  the  war.  pro- 
viding mills,  and  "$IOOO,  to  be  applied  in  building  a  convenient 
church  at  ( )neida,  in  the  place  of  the  one  which  was  burnt  by  the 
enemy  in  the  late  war." 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  379 

The  Seneca  treaties  with  New  York,  the  United  States,  and 
private  companies  are  too  numerous  to  describe  and  are  compli- 
cated by  the  Ogden  claims.  The  Oneidas'  sales  have  also  been 
many,  disposing  of  all  their  land  except  that  of  a  few  private 
persons.  They  now  have  a  large  tract  in  Wisconsin,  where 
most  of  them  reside. 

The  first  land  sale  by  the  Onondagas  was  Sep.  12,  1788,  and 
took  most  of  their  land,  but  reserved  a  mile  around  Onondaga 
lake  for  common  use  by  them  and  the  whites,  with  quite  a  tract 
farther  south.  In  1793  they  sold  a  tract  east  of  Onondaga  creek 
and  gave  the  State  the  right  to  lay  out  roads  across  their  lands. 
In  1795  they  sold  the  Salt  Springs  reservation  and  some  land  west 
of  the  creek.     There  were  smaller  sales  in  1817  and  1822. 

The  Cayugas  sold  most  of  their  land  in  1789,  but  reserved  a 
large  tract  on  both  sides  of  their  lake  at  the  north  end  and  still 
farther  north.  In  1795  they  sold  all  but  a  tract  of  2  miles  square 
and  two  others  each  a  mile  square.  One  of  the  latter,  at  Cayuga, 
was  given  to  the  Fish  Carrier,  one  of  their  chiefs,  and  the  others 
were  sold  in  1807,  so  that  they  have  now  no  reservation. 

The  Mohawks  in  Canada  released  all  claims  to  New  York 
lands  in  1798,  and  the  St  Regis  Indians  made  land  sales  in  1795, 
1813,   1824,   1825  and   1845. 

The  Iroquois  on  the  Grand  river  in  Canada  did  not  altogether 
escape  land  troubles,  and  Brant  even  proposed  to  remove  to  the 
United  States.  Some  Iroquois  from  New  York  claimed  that  the 
Grand  river  lands  belonged  to  them  as  well  as  the  Mohawks. 
A  council  at  Buffalo,  under  Red  Jacket  and  Farmer's  Brother, 
deposed  Brant,  but  he  was  restored.  According  to  Stone,  the 
council  was  illegal,  the  council  fire  having  been  regularly 
removed  from  Buffalo  to  the  Onondaga  village  on  Grand  river. 
It  is  certain,  however,  that  legal  councils  were  held  at  Buffalo, 
where  the  official  Onondaga  wampum  keeper  long  resided.  The 
wampum  was  restored  to  old  Onondaga  in  1847,  but  since  1812 
there  have  been  two  confederacies  of  the  Six  Nations,  respec- 
tively in  Canada  and  New  York,  and  exactly  corresponding. 

JBrant  went  to  the  western  treaty  with  the  United  States  in 


3&0  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

June  1795.  At  this  time  took  place  the  curious  ceremony  which 
made  the  Delawares  men  and  warriors,  and  of  which  Zeisberger 
gave  this  account: 

They  had,  among  other  ceremonies,  shorn  an  Indian's  head, 
leaving  only  a  little  hair  at  the  top,  adorned  him  with  white 
feathers,  as  the  warriors  are  accustomed  to  do,  and  painted  him. 
They  left  him  no  clothing  except  a  breech-clout,  and  put  a  war- 
beetle  into  his  hands,  and  then  presented  him  to  the  Delawares 
with  these  words:  "  Cousin,  beforetimes  we  put  on  thee  only  a 
woman's  garment;  hung  on  thy  side  a  calabash,  with  oil  to 
anoint  thy  head,  put  into  thy  hand  a  grubbing  axe  and  a  pestle, 
to  plant  corn  and  to  grind  it,  together  with  other  house-gear, 
and  told  thee  to  support  thyself  by  agriculture,  together  with  thy 
children,  and  to  trouble  thyself  about  nothing  else.  Now  we  cut 
in  two  the  band' wherewith  thy  garment  is  bound,  throw  it  among 
these  thick  dark  bushes,  whence  no  man  must  bring  it  again,  or 
he  must  die.  Thou  art  no  longer  in  thy  proper  form,  but  thy 
form  is  like  this  Indian's,  whom  we  now  present  to  thee,  that 
thou  mayest  see  who  thou  now  art,  and  instead  of  a  grubbing  axe 
and  corn-pestle  we  put  into  thy  hand  a  war-beetle,  and  feathers 
upon  thy  head.  Thou  goest  about  now  like  a  man."  Thus  they 
made  the  Delaware  nation  not  only  into  men,  but  into  warriors. 

A  party  of  Mohawks  went  through  the  Moravian  towns  Aug. 
28,  1796,  and  Zeisberger  said:  "They  are  earnestly  working  to 
kindle  war  again,  saying  quite  openly  that  there  should  be  a  new 
war  with  the  States,  and  they  seek  to  arouse  the  Canada  Indians." 

The  mission  of  Ganeodiyo,  or  Handsome  Lake,  the  prophet  of 
the  new  religion,  has  been  placed  both  in  1790  and  in  1800,  with 
probabilities  in  favor  of  the  later  date.  It  seems  to  have  been 
unknown  when  the  Iroquois  chiefs  visited  President  Washington 
in  1792,  and  part  of  the  revelation  assumes  that  he  was  dead. 
Handsome  Lake's  name  first  appears  on  a  treaty  in  1794..  but 
without  special  notice,  and  it  may  be  assumed  that  he  was  then 
in  no  way  distinguished  from  other  chiefs.  The  revelation  is 
said  to  have  been  made  in  the  interest  of  his  half-brother,  Corn- 
planter,  but  there  is  no  proof  of  this.  It  taught  rewards  and 
punishments  based  on  sound  morality,  and  strongly  opposed 
drunkenness  and  the  sale  of  lands.  It  was  largely  accepted  by 
four  of  the  Six  Nations  of  New  York  and  effected  a  considerable 
reformation.     The  prophet  died  at  Onondaga  in  1815  and  was 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  38 1 

buried  there.  Some  Quakers  were  at  Onondaga  in  1809  and  their 
words  satisfactorily  settle  the  time  and  effects  of  the  prophet's 
mission :  "  We  were  informed,  not  only  by  themselves  but  the 
interpreter,  that  they  had  totally  refrained  from  the  use  of  ardent 
spirits  for  about  nine  years,  and  that  none  of  the  natives  will 
touch  it." 

He  visited  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  March  1802, 
with  some  Onondaga  and  Seneca  chiefs,  and  received  a  letter 
from  the  secretary  of  war,  from  which  it  may  be  gathered  that 
his  mission  was  then  recent.  There  is  mention  of  the  revelation 
and  of  the  four  angels  who  made  it,  which  was  good  news  because 
of  its  objects: 

Brothers — The  President  is  pleased  with  seeing  you  all  in  good 
health,  after  so  long  a  journey,  and  he  rejoices  in  his  heart,  that 
one  of  your  own  people  has  been  employed  to  make  you  sober, 
good  and  happy;  and  that  he  is  so  well  disposed  to  give  you 
good  advice,  and  to  set  before  you  so  good  examples. 

Brothers — If  all  the  red  people  follow  the  advice  of  your 
friend  and  teacher,  the  Handsome  Lake,  and  in  future  will  be 
sober,  honest,  industrious  and  good,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but 
the  Great  Spirit  will  take  care  of  you  and  make  you  happy. 

From  time  to  time  the  Six  Nations  had  made  efforts  to  repress 
drunkenness,  asking  for  stringent  measures  against  rum  selling 
one  year  and  for  their  repeal  the  next.  They  sadly  knew  the  full 
extent  of  the  evil,  but  their  good  resolutions  were  not  proof 
against  it.  In  this  respect  there  was  now  a  great  reformation, 
which  yet  was  not  thorough.  There  came  later  efforts.  In  1830 
the  Rev.  James  Cusick,  a  Tuscarora,  founded  a  temperance  soci- 
ety of  more  than  100  members,  and  in  1845  another  of  50  mem- 
bers. In  1845  the  Rev.  Asher  Bliss  said  of  the  Cattaraugus  reser- 
vation :  "  Temperance  societies  have  been  patronized  by  nearly 
all  the  chiefs  and  leading  men  on  the  reservation.  Pledges  have 
been  circulated,  and  received  the  signatures  of  a  large  majority 
of  the  population,  on  the  Washingtonian  plan." 

As  often  as  with  us  these  efforts  have  been  kept  up  since,  there 
being  sometimes  three  or  four  temperance  organizations  on  one 
reservation.     The  Good  Templars  have  had  one  great  advantage 


3^2  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

in  bringing  the  Indians  into  contact  with  a  good  class  of  white 
people,  and  being  influenced  by  them.  Among  themselves,  a 
Six  Nations  Temperance  League  both  in  Canada  and  Xew  York, 
holds  a  great  annual  meeting,  bringing  representatives  of  all 
together  in  various  places,  with  excellent  results. 

In  the  settlement  of  western  Xew  York  some  Seneca  chiefs 
became  prominent,  two  of  these  being  Honayewus,  or  Farmer's 
Brother,  and  Red  Jacket,  or  Sagoyewatha.  The  latter  was  noted 
as  an  orator,  and  Colonel  Stone  quoted  Thomas  Morris's  descrip- 
tion as  follows : 

When  I  first  knew  Red  Jacket  he  was  in  his  prime,  being 
probably  about  36  years  of  age.  He  was  decidedly  the  most 
eloquent  man  amongst  the  Six  Nations.  His  stature  was  rather 
above  than  below  the  middle  size.  He  was  well  made.  His 
eyes  were  fine,  and  expressive  of  the  intellect  of  which  he  pos- 
sessed an  uncommon  portion.  His  address,  particularly  when 
he  spoke  in  council,  was  very  fine,  and  almost  majestic.  He  was 
decidedly  the  most  graceful  public  speaker  I  ever  heard.  He  was 
fluent,  without  being  rapid.  You  could  always  tell  when  he 
meant  to  speak,  from  the  pains  he  would  take  before  he  arose, 
to  arrange  the  silver  ornaments  on  his  arms,  and  the  graceful 
fold  he  would  give  to  his  blanket. 

Farmer's  Brother  may  have  been  born  about  1730  and  died  in 
1814.  Though  he  spoke  often,  he  preferred  being  a  warrior  to 
shining  as  an  orator.     Stone  said  of  him  : 

Beyond  all  doubt  he  was  one  of  the  noblest  of  his  race. — in 
both  intellect  and  eloquence  fully  equal  to  \<vd  jacket,  and  infi- 
nitely above  him  in  courage  and  all  the  moral  qualities  of  the 
man.  .  .  1  I  e  lived  and  died  a  sober  man.  I  le  was  remarkably 
well  formed,  and  erect  in  his  carriage,  and  trod  the  earth  with  a 
firm  step  to  the  last. 

The  Seneca  chiefs  had  tried  to  restrain  the  western  Indians. 
but,  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  Nov.  7.  1K1  1.  it  i>  said  that  many 
young  Senecas  were  engaged.  Troubles  with  England  came  to 
a  head  in  the  War  of  t8t2;  and  Hon.  Rrastus  Granger  held  a 
council  at  Buffalo  July  6,  repeating  Washington's  advice  to  the 
[ndians,  "That  you  lake  no  pari  in  the  quarrels  ni  the  white 
people."  Red  Jacket  regretted  that  those  in  Canada  had  taken 
up  arms,  and  another  peace  messenger  was  sent  to  the  Mohawks 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  383 

without  effect.  Not  long  after,  it  was  reported  that  the  British 
had  seized  Grand  Island.  This  was  thought  a  cause  for  war, 
and  this  declaration  was  made : 

We,  the  chiefs  and  councilors  of  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians, 
residing  in  the  State  of  New-York,  do  hereby  proclaim  to  all  the 
war-chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  that  war  is  declared 
on  our  part  against  the  provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada. 
Therefore,  we  hereby  command  and  advise  all  the  war-chiefs  and 
warriors  of  the  Six  Nations  to  call  forth  immediately  the  war- 
riors under  them,  and  put  them  in  motion  to  protect  their 
rights  and  liberties,  which  our  brethren,  the  Americans,  are 
now  defending. 

A  council  at  old  Onondaga  followed,  Sep.  28,  1812,  and  an 
address  was  sent  to  the  president,  saying: 

Brother, — The  undersigned,  chiefs  of  the  Oneida,  Onondaga, 
Stockbridge  and  Tuscarora  tribes  of  Indians,  as  far  west  as  Tona- 
wanda,  regularly  deputed  by  our  respective  tribes,  have  this  day 
lighted  up  a  council  fire  at  Onondaga,  the  ancient  council  ground 
of  the  Six  Confederated  Nations. 

They  had  been  advised  to  be  neutral  and  were  surprised  at  the 
declaration  of  the  Buffalo  council,  but  added:  "We  are  few  in 
number,  and  can  do  but  little,  but  our  hearts  are  good,  and  we 
are  willing  to  do  what  we  can."  They  took  no  part  till  the  next 
year,  when  400  Senecas  under  Young  Cornplanter  aided  in  the 
defense  of  Buffalo.  In  a  later  engagement,  July  17,  the  Six 
Nations  gave  efficient  aid.  General  Boyd  said  at  this  time: 
'  Hie  bravery  and  humanity  of  the  Indians  were  equally  con- 
spicuous." They  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  July 
5,  1814,  led  by  Captain  Pollard,  a  Seneca  chief.  Stone  said 
that  Kawaskant,  or  Steel  Trap,  an  old  Onondaga  warrior,  had 
expected  this  honor,  but  was  not  even  named  in  the  council. 
He  went  home  at  once,  saying,  "  They  think  me  too  old,  and 
that  I  am  good  for  nothing."  Clark  also  said  that  Hoahoaqua, 
or  La  Fort,  an  Onondaga  chief  who  was  killed  in  this  battle, 
was  chosen  leader,  but  this  was  an  error. 


3&1-  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

Chapter  26 

Morse's  Indian  report.  Census  made  at  various  times.  Ogden  Land  Co. 
Reservations.  General  Carrington's  statements.  Little  violence.  Citizen- 
ship. Title  to  lands.  Schools.  Union  soldiers.  Present  government. 
Immorality.     Progress. 

The  Rev.  Jedidiah  Morse  made  a  report  in  1822,  on  the  Indians 
of  the  United  States.  In  1796  he  found  "  the  whole  population 
of  the  Six  Nations,  including  their  adopted  children,  was  3748." 
In  1818  Jasper  Parish  said  officially,  "  The  population  of  the  Six 
Nations  of  Indians  is  4575."  The  Oneidas  were  then  1031,  exclu- 
sive of  the  Stockbridges ;  and  at  old  Onondaga  were  299  Onon- 
dagas.  Morse  found  but  272  of  the  latter  there  in  1821.  Includ- 
ing the  Brothertown  and  Stockbridge  Indians  at  Oneida,  the  Six 
Nations  of  New  York  then  numbered  4884.  After  that,  most  of 
the  Oneidas  went  to  Wisconsin. 

In  1792  their  missionary,  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  said  the 
Oneidas  had  several  villages  from  10  to  15  miles  from  Oneida 
lake,  and  numbered  630.  There  were  280  Stockbridge  Indians 
6  miles  south  of  the  largest  Oneida  village,  who  came  from 
Massachusetts.  The  Oneidas  had  also  given  lands  to  250 
Brothertown  Indians  in  1786,  which  were  20  miles  south  of 
Oneida  lake.  Their  village  was  8  miles  south  of  the  Stock- 
bridges,  and  they  had  come  from  Long  Island  sound. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  some  of  the  loose  estimates  of  num- 
bers from  time  to  time.  In  the  New  York  census  of  1845  an 
effort  was  made  to  get  more  reliable  data  of  all  kinds,  and  Henry 
R.  Schoolcraft  was  employed  to  do  this.  He  found  here  20  Mo- 
hawks, 210  Oneidas,  368  Onondagas,  123  Cayugas,  2441  Senecas, 
281  Tuscaroras,  and  360  St  Regis  Indians.  Other  Iroquois  in 
the  United  Stales  were  722  Oneidas  in  Wisconsin,  125  Senecas 
west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  211  mixed  Senecas  and  Shawnees, 
of  whom  half  might  be  Senecas.  There  were  also  51  Cornplanter 
Senecas  in  Pennsylvania,  named  from  that  chief.  He  estimated 
the  Canadian  Iroquois  at  2000,  and  the  whole  number  then  living 
at  6942,  but  did  not  take  in  some  Canadian  villages;  and  the  mere 
estimates  are  too  low. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  385 

The  United  States  census  of  1890  was  naturally  more  accurate, 
returning  fully  7387  Iroquois  in  the  United  States  and  8483  in 
Canada,  with  a  total  of  15,870.  The  estimate  of  the  greatest 
earlier  population  was  13,000  in  1682.  This  census  also  gave 
5239  as  the  Iroquois  population  of  New  York,  to  which  may  be 
added  98  on  the  adjoining  Cornplanter  reservation  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Including  this  in  the  New  York  census,  there  were  in 
the  State  481  Onondagas,  212  Oneidas,  18  Mohawks,  183  Cay- 
ugas,  2767  Senecas  and  408  Tuscaroras.  On  the  New  York  side 
of  St  Regis  were  1129  Indians.  This  left  over  2000  Iroquois  in 
other  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  reported  increase  on  the 
New  York  reservations  in  45  years  was  1753.  Reckoning  by 
these  alone,  there  were  in  1890,  494  Onondaga,  561  Tonawanda, 
880  Allegany,  1582  Cattaraugus,  459  Tuscarora  and  1 157  St 
Regis  Indians.  As  many  more  of  the  latter  were  on  the  Canada 
side. 

In  1819  the  Ogden  Land  Company  held  a  treaty  at  Buffalo, 
desiring  to  secure  all  the  Seneca  reservations  or  have  them  con- 
centrate on  one.  Agents  of  the  United  States  and  Massachu- 
setts also  attended,  but  the  treaty  was  not  successful,  and  there 
was  now  a  marked  religious  division  in  the  Seneca  nation.  Suc- 
cessive councils  were  held  till  1826,  when  the  Ogden  Company 
had  more  success,  securing  several  small  reservations  in  the 
Genesee  valley  and  parts  of  others. 

In  1838  all  the  Seneca  lands  in  New  York  were  conveyed  to 
the  company,  and  this  treaty  was  approved  by  the  United  States 
Senate,  March  1840,  and  afterward  proclaimed  by  the  president. 
All  this  involved  the  arrangements  about  western  lands  and  a 
long  litigation,  recently  decided  in  favor  of  the  Indians.  The 
Senecas  opposed  the  ratification  on  the  ground  of  fraud,  and  it 
was  agreed  that  improper  means  had  been  used,  the  case  creating 
great  interest  and  sympathy  for  the  Indians.  The  Quakers  took 
up  their  plea  and  a  compromise  treaty  was  made  in  1842,  legal 
resort  proving  useless.  A  full  account  of  all  is  contained  in  the 
report  on  The  Indian  Problem,  made  to  the  Legislature  of  New 
York  in  1889,  the  compromise  being  this: 


3^6  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

The  Ogden  Company  released  and  handed  back  to  the  Senecas 
the  whole  of  the  Allegany  reservation  and  the  Cattaraugus  reser- 
vation, and  the  Senecas  gave  up  the  whole  of  the  Buffalo  creek 
and  the  Tonawanda  reservations,  the  Ogden  Company  retaining 
the  preemptive  right  in  the  two  reservations  surrendered  to  the 
Indians. 

The  Tonawandas  were  not  satisfied  with  this,  and  forcibly 
held  possession  till  1857,  when  a  new  treaty  was  made,  and  most 
of  the  reservation  was  bought  and  restored  to  the  Indians  in 
1863.  At  one  time  their  friends  thought  all  would  have  to  leave 
the  State.  The  matter  rests  thus.  The  Indians  hold  their  lands 
with  no  intention  of  selling  them,  but  no  one  can  buy  the  Seneca 
lands  except  the  Ogden  Company. 

Out  of  various  treaties  and  transfers  grew  the  claim  of  the 
Six  Nations  to  Kansas  lands,  deeded  to  them  but  opened  and 
sold  to  settlers  in  i860.  In  1880  active  measures  were  taken  to 
recover  the  price  of  1,824,000  acres,  and  in  1900  the  Indians 
gained  their  case  and  an  award  of  $1,998,744.  Payment  of  this 
three  years  later,  was  delayed  by  questions  on  distribution,  raised 
by  the  Indians  themselves,  some  who  had  left  New  York  claim- 
ing a  share. 

In  1890  there  were  106  Oneidas  living  in  Oneida  and  Madison 
counties,  but  they  had  no  reservation.  The  ( )nondaga  reserva- 
tion, about  5  miles  south  of  the  center  of  Syracuse,  is  a  rectangle, 
4  miles  long  by  a  little  over  2.3  wide,  containing  about  6100  acres. 

Tonawanda  reservation  originally  had  71  square  miles,  and  has 
now  but  6549.73  acres.  It  is  irregular  in  form  and  in  the  counties 
of  Niagara,  Genesee  and  Erie.  Like  the  lour  following,  it  is  a 
Seneca  reserve.  Allegany  reservation,  in  Cattaraugus  county,  is 
irregular  in  form,  from  being  on  both  sides  of  Allegheny  river.  It 
is  nearly  35  miles  long,  following  that  stream,  and  contains  30,469 
acres.  Oil  Spring  reservation,  in  the  same  county,  is  a  mile 
square.  Cornplanter  reservation,  in  Pennsylvania,  is  half  a  mile 
wide  and  2  miles  long.  Cattaraugus  reservation  is  in  Cattaraugus, 
Chautauqua  and  Erie  counties,  on  both  sides  of  Cattaraugus  creek. 
It  is  9.5  miles  long,  east  and  west,  and  about  3  miles  wide  in  the 
center.    It  is  irregular  in  form  and  contains  21,680  acres. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    NEW    YORK    IROQUOIS  387 

The  Tuscarora  reservation  in  Niagara  county  came  to  the  Tus- 
carora  people  by  donation  and  purchase.  It  is  irregular  in  form 
and  includes  6249  acres.  The  St  Regis  reservation  lies  south  of 
the  boundary  line,  in  St  Lawrence  and  Franklin  counties  and  on 
the  St  Lawrence.  Raquette  and  St  Regis  rivers.  It  is  irregular 
in  form,  about  7.3  miles  long  on  the  south  line,  and  about  3  miles 
wide  ;  area  about  14,640  acres.  The  Canadian  half  is  about  equal 
in  size  and  population. 

In  the  census  report  for  1890  are  those  of  the  special  agent, 
Gen.  Henry  B.  Carrington,  and  of  Mr  T.  W.  Jackson,  United 
States  agent  for  the  Six  Nations,  employed  as  enumerator.  This 
and  the  Indian  Problem  are  among  the  most  valuable  works  on 
the  Iroquois  lately  prepared,  though  having  many  of  the  com- 
mon historic  errors.  1  ne  other  matter  is  good  and  carefully 
prepared.  The  following  statements  are  summarized  from  those 
made  by  General  Carrington. 

He  found  that  many  late  reports  "  were  evidently  manufac- 
tured and  given  out  by  interested  parties  when  legislation  to 
affect  these  Indians  was  pending."'  On  none  of  the  reserva- 
tions were  intoxicating  liquors  sold,  nor  were  there  "houses  for 
immoral  purposes  nor  gambling  dens.  .  .  The  Six  Nations 
are  in  most  danger  from  without/5  They  have  generally  asked 
to  be  let  alone.     He  adds : 

They  have  been  in  a  great  measure  let  alone  by  the  authorities, 
and  the  result  is  that  they  are  self-sustaining  and  much  further 
advanced  in  civilization  than  any  other  reservation  Indians  in 
the  United  States,  and  as  much  so  as  an  average  number  of  white 
people  in  many  localities.  .  .  Envious  Caucasians,  hungering 
for  the  Indians'  landed  possessions  in  New  York  State,  as  else- 
where, have  been  active  and  earnest  in  efforts  to  absorb  their 
substance.  They  have  been  kept  from  doing  so  thus  far  through 
the  efforts  of  earnest  and  active  fair-minded  people,  who  have 
prevented  their  spoliation. 

Crimes  were  few,  stealing  and  quarreling  rare. 

The  total  local  offenses  during  the  year  was  16  in  an  Indian 
population  of  5133.  .  .  No  communities  elsewhere,  white  or 
otherwise,  are  known  where  person  and  property  are  more  safe, 
or  where  male  and  female  can  walk  unattended  at  night  with 


3&8  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

greater  security.  Pauperism  is  unusual  and  the  tramp  almost 
unknown.  .  .  The  special  agent  calls  attention  to  the  gradual 
elimination  of  diseases  resulting  from  white  association  in  early 
times.  This  has  reduced  mortality  and  increased  longevity. 
The  growth  of  self-reliance  is  especially  noticeable.  .  .  2884 
speak  the  English  language,  and  1985  do  not.  The  total  acreage 
of  the  reservations  of  the  Six  Nations  is  82,327.73,  with  an  Indian 
and  adopted  population  of  5203,  or  16.78  acres  for  each  person. 

The  law  recognizes  each  nation  "  as  much  sovereignties,  by 
treaty  and  obligation,  as  are  the  several  states  of  the  United 
States."  The  following  words  of  General  Carrington  will  con- 
vey nothing  new  to  real  students  of  the  situation,  but  they  may 
be  of  use  to  those  who  are  confident  they  can  dispose  of  every 
difficulty  by  a  single  act: 

If  the  Iroquois,  native  or  foreign  born,  want  to  become  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  they  must  renounce  allegiance  to  their  own 
people,  but,  if  those  of  the  Six  Nations  in  New  York  become  such 
citizens,  they  can  not  carry  their  real  property  interest  with 
them.  .  .  This,  in  fact,  is  at  present  a  practical  inhibition  in 
their  way  to  citizenship.  The  several  reservations  belong  to 
them  (St  Regis  differs  somewhat  from  the  rest),  and  neither  the 
State  of  New  York  nor  the  United  States  can  legally  break  them 
up  without  the  Indians'  consent,  or  through  conditions  analogous 
to  those  of  war.  .  .  The  title  to  these  reservations  is  in  the 
nation,  and  the  members  are  therefore  at  common  law  "  tenants 
in  common."  Each  owns  his  undivided  share  absolutely,  inde- 
pendently of  the  United  States  or  the  State  of  New  York.  The 
individuals,  however,  only  hold  a  fee  equivalent  to  the  ownership 
of  the  land  they  improve,  with  power  to  sell  or  devise  among  their 
own  people,  but  not  to  strangers.  It  is  a  good  title.  The  nation 
itself  can  not  disturb  it.  .  .  The  conclusion  is  irresistible  that 
the  Six  Nations  are  nations  by  treaty  and  law,  and  have  long 
since  been  recognized  as  such  by  the  United  States  and  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  an  enlightened  public  will  surely  hesitate 
before  proceeding  to  divest  these  people  of  long  established  rights 
without  their  consent. 

The  United  States  employs  an  agent,  messenger,  physician 
and  interpreter.  The  agent  receives  and  distributes  money  and 
goods  annually  to  all  but  the  St  Regis  Indians.  The  New  York 
State  agent  acts  for  the  Onondagas,  and  the  attorney  for  those 
at  St  Regis. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW   YORK    IROQUOIS  389 

No  allotment  can  be  made  of  the  Six  Nations  lands,  nor  can  an 
assignment  in  severalty  of  them  be  had  on  the  basis  of  a  common 
and  general  division  or  absolute  removal,  as  is  usual  with  ordi- 
nary reservation  Indians.  The  present  occupancy  or  recorded 
titles  would  prevent  this,  and  the  courts  would  undoubtedly  pro- 
tect them.  While  land  tenure  among  the  Six  Nations  is,  as  a 
rule,  secure  in  the  families  enjoying  it,  the  evidence  of  title  for 
many  years  largely  depended  upon  visible  possession  and  im- 
provement rather  than  upon  the  record  evidence  common  to  white 
people.  Verbal  wills  recited  at  the  dead  feasts,  in  the  presence 
of  witnesses  to  the  devise,  were  usually  regarded  as  sacred,  and 
a  sale,  with  delivery  of  possession,  was  respected  when  no  writ- 
ten conveyance  was  executed.  Of  late  years  written  wills  have 
become  common.  .  .  The  clerk  of  the  Seneca  nation  keeps  a 
record  of  grants  made  by  the  council.  Generally,  the  clerk, 
whether  of  chiefs,  as  with  the  Onondagas  and  Tuscaroras,  or  of 
trustees,  as  with  the  St  Regis,  has  trTe  custody  of  the  records  of 
official  proceedings  respecting  grants  or  sales  of  lands.  .  .  An 
applicant  for  land,  after  petition,  secures  a  vote  of  council  or  of 
chiefs  of  a  tribe  or  nation,  as  the  case  may  be,  with  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  land  asked  for,  and  a  copy  of  that  vote  is  the  basis  of 
a  permanent  title  to  himself,  his  heirs  and  assignees.  .  .  The 
infrequency  of  transfer  out  of  a  family  and  the  publicity  of  the 
act  when  such  a  transfer  is  made  have  been  esteemed  sufficiently 
protective.  .  .  As  with  white  people,  there  are  and  will  be  Six 
Nations  Indians  landowners  and  Six  Nations  Indians  landless. 

In  1890  there  were  27  schools  on  the  New  York  reservations, 
besides  the  Thomas  Asylum,  and  the  number  of  teachers  has 
been  since  increased.  Irregular  habits  and  a  feeling  that  school 
education  was  of  little  use  have  interfered  with  study,  but,  as 
the  benefits  are  realized,  there  are  better  results  and  attendance. 
Reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  are  seen  to  be  useful,  and  a 
common  education  is  desired.     General  Carrington  well  said : 

No  people  are  quicker  to  catch  opportunities  for  easy  gain.  A 
system  of  rewards,  stimulative  of  effort  in  the  education  of  their 
children,  if  well  advised  and  fostered,  would  be  worth  its  cost 
and  accomplish  lasting  good. 

The  early  French  missionaries  understood  this.  In  1669  Father 
Bruyas  found  his  Oneida  pupils  daily  increasing,  but  he  had 
been  shrewd  in  his  management,  and  said :  "  Whoever  knows 
how  to  repeat  on  Sunday  all  that  is  said  during  the  week,  has 
a  string  of  glass  beads,  or  two  little  glass  cylinders,  or  two  rings 
of  brass." 


390  NEW    YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 

After  the  colonial  period,  there  were  new  efforts  in  the  way 
of  Indian  education,  often  of  a  mere  personal  character  and  with- 
out permanence.  State  aid  was  first  given  not  very  long  ago, 
and  for  a  time  was  of  a  very  cheap  kind.  It  has  not  been  all 
that  is  needed  yet:  but  those  who  have  known  the  New  York 
reservations  for  60  years  are  well  aware  of  the  great  advance  made. 

As  nearly  as  could  be  learned  in  1890,  the  Six  Nations  fur- 
nished for  the  Civil  War  162  soldiers  and  sailors ;  the  Onondagas 
16,  the  Senecas  113,  the  Tuscaroras  10,  and  the  St  Regis  23. 
These  were  not  in  one  organization,  but  enlisted  in  various  regi- 
ments. One  noted  Seneca  chief,  Donehogawa,  or  Ely  S.  Parker, 
served  on  General  Grant's  staff  and  was  a  man  of  good  education. 

The  Onondagas  have  27  chiefs,  the  ruling  ones  chosen  by  the 
women  of  the  clan  represented.  These  usually  hold  office  till 
death  or  deposition,  and  boys  may  be  chosen,  but  can  not  vote 
on  financial  affairs.  There  are  now  a  president,  secretary, 
treasurer  and  other  officers.  The  Tonawanda  Senecas  have  34 
chiefs,  chosen  by  the  women  of  the  vacant  clans,  but  the  chiefs 
in  office  may  demand  a  reconsideration.  The  people  vote  for 
executive  officers.  The  Allegany  and  Cattaraugus  Senecas  are 
legally  incorporated  as  "  The  Seneca  Nation,"  with  a  constitu- 
tion, a  council  of  16  members,  half  elected  every  year,  and  a 
president.     Expenditures   of   over  $500  require  a  popular  vote. 

The  Tuscaroras  have  their  ancient  chiefs,  chosen  by  the 
women.  The  St  Regis  Indians  were  one  of  the  Seven  Nations 
of  Canada,  always  with  a  peculiar  government,  and  now  having 
trustees  annually  elected. 

Inquiry  was  diligently  made  respecting  the  number  of  recog- 
nized immoral  characters  living  on  the  respective  reservations. 
These  inquiries  were  made  with  the  population  list  in  mind,  and 
always  of  different  persons.  There  was  an  almost  invariable 
concurrence  of  testimony,  specifying  how  many  and  who  openly 
violated  the  laws  of  chastity.  The  largesl  estimate  for  any  reser- 
vation was  less  than  20;  at  some  reservations  not  even  six  could 
be  named.  .  .  The  people  of  the  Six  Nations,  with  all  their 
unhappy  surroundings  and  poverty,  in  this  matter  have  suffered 
opprobium  beyond  their  true  desert  in  the  judgment  of  Christian 
America. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS  39 1 

There  is  no  occasion  to  precipitate  the  technical,  very  vague, 
and  very  unsubstantial  condition  of  citizenship  upon  the  people 
of  the  Six  Nations.  It  would  only  facilitate,  while  they  are  poor, 
the  transfer  of  their  lands  to  hungry  white  men  without  benefit 
to  their  people  at  large.  .  .  The  Six  Nations  will  make  better 
citizens  by  a  still  longer  struggle  among  themselves,  if  supported 
generously  and  charitably  by  those  who  are  their  true  friends. 

General  Carrington  gives  sound  reasons  why  citizenship  and 
partition  should  not  be  enforced  or  hastened,  and  it  may  be  added 
that  some  of  the  most  advanced  and  intelligent  Iroquois  hold 
the  same  opinions.  They  can  not  see  what  they  would  gain  by 
citizenship,  and  they  realize  the  dangers  and  difficulties  of  par- 
tition. One  great  difficulty  comes  in  the  line  of  descent.  Mr 
Jackson  differed  from  General  Carrington  on  the  main  question, 
but  admitted  the  difficulties.     He  said : 

In  my  opinion,  the  proper  way  to  civilize  the  Indians  of  New 
York  is  to  secure  a  division  of  their  lands  in  severalty,  and  place 
them  in  full  citizenship  ;  but  there  are  many  questions  and  diffi- 
culties to  be  overcome  before  this  can  be  done  without  injury  to 
the  rights  of  the  Indians. 

In  the  judgment  of  some  who  know  the  New  York  Iroquois 
best,  they  have  made  a  remarkable  advance  in  the  last  half  cen- 
tury; and  the  future  is  full  of  hope  for  them  if  guidance  and 
aid  are  not  replaced  by  unwise  coercion.  Many  live  well  and 
are  highly  esteemed.  They  are  in  demand  in  various  industries, 
and  some  judicious  business  training  would  increase  the  demand. 
The  growing  contact  with  intelligent  and  reputable  white  people 
is  one  important  factor ;  the  recognized  advantages  of  essential 
branches  of  education  in  business  are  telling  favorably  on  the 
question  of  schools.  Old  feasts  and  customs  have  lost  their 
hold,  and  dances  which  were  once  religious  are  now  but  frolics. 
Church  membership  compares  fairly  with  that  of  white  com- 
munities. The  census  of  1890  reported  12  church  buildings,  18 
ministers,  and  1074  communicants  in  New  York.  In  temper- 
ance organizations  they  surpass  their  white  neighbors. 

In  the  history  now  given  this  gradual  change  and  progress 
may  be  seen.  Many  savage  features  had  disappeared  before 
1800;    and  the  Indians  who  had  fought  New  York  men  a  little 


392  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

before,  then  aided  the  pioneers  in  subduing  the  wilderness,  wel- 
coming them  with  open  hands.  But  to  understand  the  change 
more  fully,  one  should  go  into  some  of  the  better  Iroquois  homes 
of  today,  and  contrast  them  with  anything — the  very  best — 
found  on  an  Indian  reservation  60  years  ago.  Much  is  yet  desir- 
able; but  there  is  constant  progress.  Some  object  to  the  change 
who  have  a  taste  for  the  novel  and  picturesque;  some  because 
the  change  is  less  rapid  than  they  wish.  Let  both  rest  assured 
that  the  progress  is  natural  and  healthy,  and  is  resulting  in  good. 
With  more  time  and  better  influences  a  higher  good  will  come. 
One  pleasant  feature  is  the  revival  of  interest  in  all  pertaining 
to  the  Indian  race,  practical  or  curious.  That  we  should  wish 
to  know  the  meanings  or  history  of  the  local  names  we  use  seems 
a  matter  of  course,  but  there  is  a  constant  call  for  Indian  names 
for  places,  houses,  boats  and  clubs,  because  of  their  beauty  and 
sonorous  sound.  The  desire  to  know  more  of  aboriginal  life 
daily  increases,  and  new  works  on  the  subject  or  reprints  of  old 
ones  constantly  appear.  The  fact  that  old  customs  and  articles 
are  vanishing  has  led  to  personal  study  of  those  which  remain, 
as  well  as  the  preservation  of  much  which  is  curious  or  valuable. 
It  would  be  well  were  there  more  visible  memorials  of  historic 
Indian  sites,  but  monuments  are  not  forgotten.  Jogues  and  the 
Mission  of  the  Martyrs  are  recalled  by  the  shrine  at  Auriesville. 
The  Brant  monument  at  Brantford  in  Canada,  tells  of  a  notable 
man  and  a  powerful  confederacy;  the  Red  Jacket  memorial  at 
Canoga  marks  the  birthplace  of  a  great  orator,  and  his  monu- 
ment at  Buffalo  points  out  his  tomb ;  the  Kirkpatrick  memorials 
at  Syracuse  recall  the  friends  and  guides  of  Le  Moyne;  and  the 
Logan  monument,  within  the  earthwork  at  Auburn,  bears  that 
chief's  pathetic  words:  "Who  is  there  to  mourn  for  Logan?" 
( )ther  memorials  there  will  be,  but  the  historic,  legendary  or 
descriptive  names  he  has  left  to  meadow,  river,  lake  and  moun- 
tain, will  still  be  the  red  man's  greatest  and  most  enduring  monu- 
m<  nt,  heard  from  infant  lips  and  eherished  in  old  age.  As  Schiller 
wrote :  "  O'er  dust  triumphant  lives  the  Name."  Nations  die,  but 
that  endures. 


EXPLANATION  OF  PLATES 


394  NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 

PLATE  I 

Part  of  Champlain's  map  of  1632 

1  Saults  in  various  parts,  all  under  one  number 

2  La  Nation  des  Puans,  afterward  called  Winnebagoes 

3  Isle  ou  il  y  a  vne  mine  de  cuiure.     This  copper  mine  was  reported  by  Brule 

on  his  return  from  the  Huron  country. 

4  Grand  lac,  Lake  Michigan 

5  Les  gens  de  feu,  Assistagueronons,  afterward  Maskoutins 

6  Mer  douce,  Lake  Huron 

7  Lieu  ou  les  sauuages  font  secherie  de  framboise  et  blues  tous  les  ans 

8  Lac  de  Bisserenis,  called  by  him  very  handsome 

9  Bisserenis 

10  Chasse  des  caribous  Algommequins 

11  Huron  country,  where  there  are  a  number  of  tribes  and  17  villages  inclosed 

with  triple  palisades  of  wood,  with  galleries  all  around  in  form  of  parapet 

12  Gens  de  Petun  is  a  tribe  that  cultivates  that  plant  [tobacco]  in  which 

they    drive    a    considerable    trade    with    the    other    nations.     Afterward 
called  Tionontaties. 

13  Cheveux  relevez  are  savages  who  do  not  wear  a  breech  cloth,  and  go  quite 

naked  except  in  winter.     Algonquins  so  called  from  their  erect  hair. 

14  The  Neutral  Nation  is  a  tribe  which  maintains  itself  against  all  others  and 

has  no  war  except  against  the  Assistaque-ronons 

15  Lac  St  Louis,  now  Lake  Ontario 

jo  The  Antouhonorons  are  15  villages  built  in  strong  positions,  enemies 
of  all  others  except  the  Neutral  nation.  The  Yroquois  and  the 
Antouhonorons  make  war  together. 

17  Village  inclosed   by   four  palisades,   where   Sieur    Champlain   went   to   war 

against  the  Antouhonorons,  where  he  took  several  Indian  prisoners. 
In  the  narrative  it  is  an  Iroquois  fort.     The  dotted  lfne  shows  his  route. 

18  Hirocois,  his  usual  spelling  for  Iroquois;  sometimes  Yroquois. 

19  Carantouanis  is  a  nation  to  the  south  of  the  Antouhonorons.    .    .    where 

they  are  strongly  lodged,  and  are  friends  with  all  the  other  nations 
except  the  Antouhonorons,  from  whom  they  are  only  three  days  distant. 
They  were  near  the  Susquehanna,  and  probably  near  Waverly  N.  Y. 

20  Petitte  nation  des  Algommequins,  or  Algonquins 

21  River  of  the  Algommequins,  now  Ottawa  river 

22  Quebec 

23  Lac  de  Champlain 

24  The   Place  in   Lake  Champlain,  where  the   Yroquois  were  defeated  by  said 
Sieur  Champlain.    Tins  was  in  1609. 

25  Little  Lake  by  winch  we  go  to  the  Yroquois  after  passing  that  of  Champlain 

26  Abenaquia 

27  Lac  de  Quinebequi 


--■=;- 


39^ 


NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  a 


Part  of  Sanson's  map  of  1656 


1  Lac  Superieur 

2  Lac  de  Puans 

3  Oukouarararonons.    Ronon  means 

nation. 

4  Assistaeronons,    ou    Nation    du 

Feu 

5  Ariatoeronon 

6  Couaeronon 

7  Lac  des  Eaux  de  Mer 

8  Aictaeronon 

9  Squenquioronon 

10  Astakouankaeronons 

11  Skiaeronon 

12  Cheveux  releves 

13  Aouechissaronon 

14  Elsouataironon 

15  L.  Nipissiriniens 

16  Eachiciouachoronon 

17  Nipissiriniens 

18  Aossondi 

19  Enchek 

20  Karegnondi.    Now  Lake  Huron 

21  S.  Simon,  S.  Jude 

22  N.  du  Petun,  ou  Sanhionontatehe- 

ronons 

23  S.  Pierre,  S.  Pol 

24  S.  Francois 

25  N.  D.  des  Anges 

26  N.  Neutre  or  Attiouandarons 

27  S.  Michel 

28  S.  Joseph 

29  Alexis 

30  Hurons 

31  Oentaron  L. 

32  Sarontouaneronon 

33  Chonchradeen 

34  Algonquins 

35  Quionontateronon  ou  Petite  Na- 

tion de  l'lsle  ou  Ehouqueronon 

36  Otchiahen 

Z7  Tonthataronon 

38  Sault  de  S.  Louys 

39  Mont  Real 

40  R.  des  Prairies 


41  Aentondae 

42  Errahonanoate 

43  Agoyaheno 

44  Tarantou 

45  Chiaentonan 

46  Chaouaeronon 

47  R.  de  Mons 

48  L.  S.  Pierre 

49  les  Trois  Rivieres 

50  L.  S.  Joseph 

51  Sillery 

52  Quebec 

53  I.  d'Orleans 

54  L.  Erie,  ou  Du  Chat 

55  Eriechronons  ou  N.  du  Chat 

56  Ongiara  Sault 

57  Ontario,  ou  Lac  de  St  Louys 

58  Sonontouaerronons 

59  Sovouaronon.   Possibly  Cayugas 

60  Onneichronons 

61  Onontagueronons 

62  Anneronons 
6s  Iroquois 

64  N.  Sueden 

65  Isle  Capagiatehissins 

66  Naroua  Lac 

67  Richelieu 

68  L.  Champlain 

69  Andiataroque     L.     now      Lake 

George 

70  Oiogue  R.,  Mohawk  river 

71  R.  du  Nort,  Hudson  river 

72  Nouvelle  Amsterdam 

73  Nouveau  Pays  Bas,  or  New  Neth- 

erland 

74  Longe  Eyland 

75  N.  Hollande 

76  Socoquiois 

77  N.  Pleymouth 

78  Nouvelle  Angleterre 

79  Ouabouquiquois 

80  Abnaquiois 

81  Quinibequi  R. 


in. 


39« 


NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  3 

Part  of  Creuxius's  map  of  1660 


1  Nipisirini.       Most   of   his   names 

are  Latinized 

2  Nipisirius  Lacus 

3  Nationes  Algonquinae 

4  Insula  Algonquinorum 

5  Hurons 

6  Pagus  Contehani-Kingius 

7  Pagus  Echiojus 

8  P.    Ethaowatius 

9  P.  Ondicius 

10  Fl.  S.  Laurens 

11  Insula  ta  Saronita.     Probably  To- 

niata 

12  P.  Otatacte 

13  P.  Ondatoius 

14  Oionenii.      Early  name  of  Cay- 

ugas 

15  P.  Ondiasacus 

16  Sonnonteronii,    or    Senecas.      Iro- 

quois names  and  cantons  are 
both  given 

17  Lacus  Iroquiorum.   Onondaga  lake 

18  Oigoenronii.    Oneidas 

19  Onontaeronii.     Onondagas 

20  Pagus  Oionenius.    Cayuga 

21  Lacus  Oiggoenronius,  Oneida  lake, 

but  nearer  the  latter  Cayuga 
name 

22  Agnieronii.    Mohawks.    The  river 

is  called  Fl.  Agnieus,  and  some 
southern  and  eastern  streams 
have  names. 

23  Lacus  Arokoueus 

24  I.  Montis  Regalis.  Montreal 

25  Insula  ferinae  absidant 


26  Natio  Algonquinorum  minor 
2J  Lac  Ogus 

28  Abnaquioii 

29  Soquoquioii 

30  Natio  Luporii 

31  Agnieus  pagus 

32  Andastoeii,   seu  Natio  perticarum 

33  Pasitigsecii 

34  Saltus  Astiaius 

35  L.  Champlain 

36  L.  Ontario 

37  Natio  Surrectorum  Capillarum 

38  Mare  Dulce  seu  Lacus  Huronum 

39  S.  Simoni  et  Judo.    Missions 

40  P.  Ethanaaenius 

41  S.  Petri  et  S.  Pauli 

42  P.  S.  Kenchioetontens 

43  P.     Assistoius.     Nation     of     Fire 

44  P.  Ondatonius 

45  P.  Teoronius     ' 

46  Lacus  Aquarum  Marinarum 

47  P.  Onnonderetius 

48  Natio    Felium.    Eries 

49  S.  Francisci 

50  N.  D.  Ange.    In  Neutral  country 

51  S.  Michelis 

52  S.  Josephi 

53  S.  Alexis 

54  Gens  Neutral 

55  P.  Annachiaius 

56  P.  Otontaronius 

57  Ongiara  Cattaracta 

58  P.  Ondieronii 

59  Lacus  Erius  seu  Felis 


Creuxius's  chart  of  the  Huron  country,  with  the  same  map 


1  Insula  Gahoedoe 

2  P.  Etondatratiu^ 

9  Arenta.     S.  Magdalene 
10  Lacus  Contarea 

3  londaken 

4  Ouenrio 

1 1  S.  Xavier 

12  Concepcion 

5  Karenhassa 

13  S.  Maria 

6  Insula  Ordiatara 

7  S.  Charles 

8  Schion  de  Liaria 

and 

A 

scension 

14  Raoaa 

15  S.  Louis 

16  S.  Dionysius 

"^  ft"' 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS  399 

17  Caldaria  24  S.  Elizabeth 

18  S.  Michel  25  S.  John  Baptist 

19  S.  John  26  P.  Ethaouatius 

20  S.  Joachim  27  Anatari 

21  Arethsi  28  L.  Anaouites 

22  S.  Ignatius  29  Lacus  Ouentaronius 

23  Gaion  Reate 


400 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


PLATE  4 

Coronelli's  map  of  1688 


1  Lac    Huron   ou    Mer    Douce    des 

Hurons 

2  Ekaenton  Isle 

3  Michilimackinac 

4  R.  Francois 

5  Missisagha 

6  Lac  Nipissing  or  Skekoven 

7  Sorciers 

8  Allumettes.     Isle  du  Borgne 

9  Sault  des  Calumets 

10  Ottawa  or  Huron  river 

11  Beaver  hunting  grounds  of  Loups 

and  Iroquois 

12  River  flowing  from   L.  Taronto 

into  L.  Huron 

13  Road  by  which  the  Iroquois  go  to 

the  Ottawas 
14,  15  Cayuga  villages  of  Teyoyagon, 
Ganatchekiagon,  Ganeraske 
and  Kentsio 

16  L.  and  R.  de  Tanouate  Kente 

17  Tontiarenhe 

18  Ohate 

19  Onondkouy 

20  Sault  des  Chats 

21  Petite  Nation 

22  Long  Sault  (of  the  Ottawa.) 

23  Otondiata 

24  Baye  de  Sikonam 

25  Tsiketo  or  L.  Chaudiere,  now  L. 

St  Clair 

26  Very    beautiful    river.     The    Iro- 

quois   have    destroyed    most    of 
the  inhabitants 

27  Shawnees 

28  Outlet  of  L.  Huron 

29  Atiragenrega,  nation  detruite 

30  Antouaronons,  nation  detruite 

31  Niagagarega,  nation  detruite 


32  Lac    Teiocharontiong    dit    com- 

munement  Lac  Erie.  Called  Te- 
charonkion  in  1670 

33  L.  Erie.     It  is  said  here  that  this 

is  not  Lake  Erie,  commonly  so 
called,  but  "  Erie  est  une  partie 
de  la  Baye  de  Chesapeack  dans 
la  Virginie,  ou  les  Eriechro- 
nons  ont  toujours  demeure." 

34  Ohio  river,   called   so  because  of 

its  beauty  or  size 

35  Lac    Oniasont,    now    Chautauqua 

lake 

36  Les  Oniasont-Keronons 

37  Lac  Ontario  ou  de  Frontenac 

38  Marshes  and  fishing  ponds  along 

the  lake  shores 

39  Ka  Kouagoga,  nation  detruite 

40  Senecas 

41  Negateca  fontaine 

42  Cayuga s 

43  The  largest  vessels  are  able  to 

navigate  from  here  to  the  end 
of  L.  Frontenac 

44  Cahihonoiiaghe,   place   where 

most  of  the  Loups  and  Iro- 
quois land  to  go  in  the  beaver 
trade  to  New  York,  by  road 
marked  by  double  rows  of 
marks 

45  Corlar,  or  Schenectady 

46  Albany,  formerly  Fort  Orange 

47  North  river 

48  L.  Champlain 

49  Lac  du  St  Sacrement 

50  R.  Richelieu 

51  Sorel  R. 

52  Savages  called  Mahingans  or  So- 

coquis 


o 
U 

O 

c 

£ 

o 


402 


NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  5 

Part  of  Colonel  Romer's  map  of  1700 
He  went  only  to  the  Oswego  river,  and  west  of  that  his  map  is  fanciful. 


1  Onondages  R.,  now  Oneida 

2  Cananda  river,  now  Seneca 

3  Cajouge  river,  now  Seneca 

4  Cananda  lake,  now  Onondaga.  Ka- 

neenda  usually 

5  Salt  pan,  the  salt  springs 

6  Onondages.      Onondaga,    then    on 

east  side  of  Butternut  creek 

7  Kechioiahte,  now  Butternut  creek 

8  Quiehook,  now  Chittenango  creek 

9  Sachm.warage,    selected    for    fort. 

Variously  spelled 

10  Onydes  lake 

11  Wood  kill 

12  Great  Carrying  Place.     Curiously 

out  of  place 


13  Carrying  Place,  now  Rome  N.  Y. 

14  Beaver  Kill,  now  Oneida  creek 

15  Onyedes.    Old  Oneida  in  Oneida 

county 

16  The  old  trail  which  he  followed. 

Smaller  trails  are  shown. 

17  Maquas  river 

18  Third  Maquas  Castle,   called  Da- 

ganahoge 

19  Second  Maquas  Castle.     The  first 

he  placed  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Mohawk,  opposite  Schoharie 
creek.  The  Oswego  river  he 
called  by  its  present  name. 


404 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


PLATE  6 


Charlevoix's  map  of  1745 


1  Fort  Niagara 

2  Le  Grand  Marais 

3  Petite  Riv.  aux  Boeufs 

4  R.  aux  Boeufs 

5  R.  S.  Aubin 

6  R.  Noire 

7  R.  Gaskonchiagon,  i.   e.  River  of 

the  falls,  Genesee  river 

8  R.   des  Sonnontouans,  i.  e.  River 

of  the  Senecas,  which  is  prop- 
erly the  Seneca  river  of  that 
day.  The  river  on  the  map  has 
no  existence. 

9  Ganientaragouat,  ou  R.  des  Sables. 

Irondequoit  bay 

10  Baye  des  Goyogouins,  or  Cayu- 

gas.    Sodus  bay 

11  Lac  des  Latrons.     Little  Sodus 

bay 

12  Riviere      inconnue      aux      Geog- 

raphes  qui  est  remplie  de 
Saults  et  de  Cascades.  Upper 
part  of  Genesee  river 

13  Tsonnontouans,  or  Senecas 

14  Fontaine     Brulante,    the    noted 

burning  spring 

15  Lac  Thiohero,  Cayuga  lake 

16  Goyogouen,  or  Cayuga 

17  Lac  Asco,  now  Owasco 

18  Lac  Scaniatores,  now  Skaneateles 

19  Onontatacet,  a  Cayuga  village  on 

Seneca  river 

20  L.  Tiocton,  now  Cross  lake 

21  Lac    Ganentaha,    now    Onondaga 

lake 


22  Onontagues,  or  Onondagas 

23  Techirogen,    Indian   name   of 

Brewerton,   from  the  lake 

24  Lac  Techirogen,  Oneida  lake 

25  Onnejioust,  Oneida 

26  R.  des  Onontagues,  Oswego  river 

27  Fort  de  Choueguen,  Oswego 

28  R.  de  La  Grosse  Ecorce,  Salmon 

creek  or  Little  Salmon  river 

29  La  Petite  Famine,  Grindstone  creek 

30  La  Grande  Famine,  Salmon  river 

31  R.    de   la    Planche,    Little    Sandy 

creek 

32  R.  des  Sables,  Sandy  creek 

33  R.  de  l'Assomption,  Stony  brook 

34  Baye  de  Niaoure,  Chaumont  bay 

35  Pt.  de  la  Traverse 

2.6  I.  aux  Galots 

2.7  Same 

38  I.  au  Renard 

39  I.  aux  Chevreuils 

40  I.  Tonti 

41  Kente,  now  Quinte 

42  Gannejouts 

43  Fort   Frontenac,  often  called 

Cataraqui 

44  Baye  de  Cataracouy 

45  R.  Ouagaron.  He  placed  the  Iro- 

quois villages  of  Tejaiagon, 
Gandatsiagon,  Ganaraske,  Tan- 
naoute,  Kente  and  Gannejouts 
on  the  north  side  of  Lake 
Ontario. 


406 


NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  7 


M.  de  Pouchot's  map  of  1758 


1  R.  Chenonda,  now  Chippewa  river 

2  Fort  Niagara 

3  Niagara  portage 

4  Kanoagoa,  Seneca  village 

5  Schatacoin  R.,  outlet  of  Chautau- 

qua lake 

6  R.  a  la  terre  puante,  Cattaraugus 

creek,  meaning  the  same 

7  R.    Kaeouagegein,    Eighteen    Mile 

creek,    or    Creek    of    the    Kahk- 
wahs 

8  R.    au    boiblanc,    from    its    Indian 

name  of  Basswood  creek,  Buf- 
falo creek 

9  Grende  R.  au  beufs 

10  R.  Gascon  chagon.     Genesee  river, 

Indian  name  for  the  falls 

1 1  Baye  et  F.  des  Sable.     Now  Iron- 

dequoit  bay 

12  Baye    de    goyogoins,    Bay    of    the 

Cayugas.     Sodus  bay 
[3  Les  Boucauts,  Little  Sodus  bay 

14  Kanvagen,  Seneca  village 

15  Connectxio,  Geneseo 

1')  Etanonskegon,  Seneca  village 

17  Oneotade.       Probably    the    village 

farther  west 

18  Kanestio,  now  Canisteo 
[9  Kaygen 


20  Kayjen.     Delaware  villages 

21  Knacto 

22  Theaggen  or  Tioga 

23  R.  de  Kanestio 

24  East  branch  of  the  Susquehanna 

25  Runonvea,   village   near   Chemung 

river 

26  Anjagen,  Seneca  village 

2^  Kanentagon  ;    perhaps   for  Canan- 
daigua 

28  Kanentage,  Canandaigua,  but  at 

the  wrong  end  of  the  lake 

29  Kaensatague,  eastern  Seneca  castle 

30  Kendae,  village  on  the  east  side  of 

Seneca  lake 

31  Oeyendehit,  a  name  placed  between 

Seneca  and  Cayuga  lakes 

32  V.  Goyogoin.     Cayuga 

^  R.    des    5    Nations.      Now    Seneca 
river 

34  V.  Onontague 

35  V.  Onoyote 

36  Chouegcn  or  Oswego 
yj  R.  de  Chouegen 

38  R.  au  Chicot s,  or   Wood  creek 

39  F.  Stenix,  Fort  Stanwix 

40  R.  a  M.  le  Contte 

41  Ray  de  Niaoure,  Chaumont  bay 


00 


408 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MUSEUM 


PLATE  8 


Part  of  Col.  Guy  Johnson's  map  of  1771 


1  Fort  Niagara 

2  Great  Falls 

3  Fort  Sclosscr 

4,  5  Small  villages 

6  Johnson's  Harbor 

7  Tiyanagarunte  creek 

8  Prideauk  bay 

9  Little    Seneca    Rr.     now    Genesee 

river 

10  Falls  very  high 

11  Adiarundaquat,    now    Irondequoit 

bay 

12  Aserotus.      "Aserotus   harbour   is 

capable  of  receiving  Vessels  of 
Burden."     Now  Sodus  bay 

13  Little  Sodus 

14  Fort  Ontario 

15  Indian  path  to  the  lake 

16  Canawagus,  now  Avon 

17  Chenussio,  now  Geneseo 

18  Anarara,  now  Honeoye 

19  Ganuskago,  now  Dansville 

20  Onondarka 

21  Karaghiyadirha,  now  Caneadea 

22  Gistaguat 

23  Tioniongarunte 

24  Ohio  or  Allegany  River  as  it  is 

called  above  Fort  Pitt 

25  Kanestio,  with  mixed  population 

26  Sinsink,  a  Munsey  town 

27  Canadaragey,  now  Canandaigua 

28  Canadasegy,  near  Geneva 

29  Unnamed,  but  is  Kashong 

30  Seneca  Lake 

31  Unnamed,  but  is  Kendaia 

32  Cayuga.     There  were  several  vil- 

lages. 

33  Cayuga  L. 

34  Toderighrono,  an  adopted  people 


35  Tiaoga,  a  Delaware  town 

36  Sheshecunnunk 

37  Wialoosin 

38  Owegy,  now  Owego 

39  Chughnutt,  now  Choconut 

40  Otsiningo,  now  Chenango.     Mostly 

Nanticokes 

41  Onoghquagy,    now    Oquaga. 

Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras 

42  East  branch  of  the  Susquehanna 

43  Great  Seneca,  now  Seneca  river 

44  Glass  L.,  now  Cross  lake 

45  Salt  L.,  now  Onondaga  lake 

46  Onondaga 

47  Onondaga  Rr.,  now  Oswego  river 

48  3  Rivers,  junction  of  Seneca,  Onei- 

da and  Oswego  rivers 

49  Fort  Brewerton 

50  Oneida  Lake 

51  This  Country  belongs  to  the  Onei- 

das. 

52  Fish  Cr. 

53  Wood  Cr. 

54  Fort  Stanwix 

55  Ganaghsaraga,  a  Tuscarora  Town. 

"  The  Tuscaroras  who  form  the 
sixth  Nation  are  omitted,  being 
a  southern  People  that  live  on 
lands  allotted  them  between 
Oneida  &  Onondaga." 

56  Oneida.     This  is  Old  Oneida,  near 

Oriskany  creek. 

57  Tienaderha  River,  now  Unadilla 

58  "  The  Villages  on  the  East  Branch 

of  Susquehannah  are  chiefly 
occupied  by  Oneidas  and  Tus- 
caroras." 

59  "The  Boundary  Settled  with  the 

Indians  in  1768." 

60  Orisca,  now  Oriskany  creek 


"The  Mohocks  are  not  mentioned  as  they  reside  within  the  limits  of 
N.  York  at  Fort  Hunter  &  Conajoharie."  North  of  the  towns  along  the 
Mohawk  river,  it  is  said,  "  The  Boundary  of  New  York  not  being  closed 
this   part   of  the   Country  still   belongs  to  the  Mohocks." 


o 


410  NEW   YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 

PLATE  9 

Condensed   from    Morgan's    "  Map    of    Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga,    or 
the  Territories  of  the  People  of  the  Long  House."     1851 

This  gives  names  of  places  mostly  as  known  to  the  Senecas.  The  location 
of  Indian  towns  is  hardly  satisfactory.  Many  of  colonial  days  are  omitted, 
while  a  few  are  retained,  and  it  is  hard  to  say  precisely  what  period  it  repre- 
sents. So  valuable  a  contribution  to  New  York  ethnology  should  have  recog- 
nition in  any  history  of  the  Six  Nations;  and,  while  much  will  be  omitted, 
some  additional  information  will  be  supplied. 

1  Lake  Erie.    Do'-sho-weh  Te-car-ne-o-di,  the  first  word  being  the  name 

of  Buffalo,  and  the  latter  standing  for  lake.     It  had  many  names. 

2  Lake  Ontario.     Ne-ah'-ga  Te-car-ne-o-di,  or  Lake  at  Niagara 

3  Grand  river,   Canada.     Swa'-geh,  Flowing  out,  once  applied  to  Lake 

Erie 

4  Burlington  bay.  De-o-na'-sa-de-o,  Where  the  Sand  forms  a  Bar 

5  Toronto.     De'on-do,  Log  Floating  on  the  Water 

6  Kingston.     Ga-dai-o'-que,  Fort  in  the  Water 

7  Wolfe  island.     De-a'-wone-da-ga-han'-da 

8  St  Lawrence  river.     Ga-na-wa'-ga,  The  Rapid  River 

9  Dunkirk.     Ga-na'-da-wa-o,  Running  through  the  Hemlocks 

10  Cattaraugus  creek  and  Indian  village.     Ga'-da-des-ga-o,  Fetid  Banks 

11  Chautauqua  lake.     Cha-da'-queh,  Place  where  One  was  lost.     Several 

interpretations 

12  Conewango  river.     Ga'-no-wun-go,  In  the  Rapids 

13  Indian  village  on  the  Allegany  river.  De-o'-na-ga-no,  Cold  Spring 

14  Indian  village  on  the  Allegany  river.  Jo'-ne-a-dih,  Beyond  the  Great 

Bend 

15  Oil  spring  Indian  village,  Te-car-nohs,  Dropping  Oil 

16  Canisteo.     Te-car'-nase-te-o,  Board  on  the  Water 

17  Allegany  river.     O-hee-yo,  Beautiful  River 

t8  Buffalo.    Do'-sho-weh,  Splitting  the  Fork.    Most  others  render  it  Place 
of  Basswoods. 

19  Near  Buffalo  were  Red  Jacket's  village,  Te-kise'-da-ne-yout,  Place  of 

the   Bell,   and   Ga-sko'-sa-da,   Village  at  the   Falls.     The   Onondaga 
village    is    unnoted. 

20  Carrying  place  village.     Gwa'-u-gweh,  Place  of  taking  out  Boats 

21  Niagara  river.     Ne-ah'-ga,  A  Neck 

22  Ne-ah'-ga.     Indian  village  of  the  18th  century  at  the  mouth  of  Niagara 

river 

23  Tuscarora  village.     Ga'-a-no-geh,  On  the  Mountain 

24  Oak  Orchard  creek.     Da-ge-a'-no-ga-unt,  Two  Sticks  coming  together 

25  Tonawanda    Indian  village.    Ta'-na-wun-da,  Swift  Water 

26  Bend    Indian   village   on   the   Allegany  river.     Da'-u-de-hok-to,   At    the 

Bend 
_'7  Genesee  river.    Gen  nis'  he-yo,  Beautiful  Valley 

28  Caneadca.     Ga-o'-ya-de-o,   Where    the    Heavens    lean    on    the    Earth,    In- 

dian village 

29  Indian  village  of  O-wa-is'-kj,  Under  the  Banks 


bo 

u 
O 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW   YORK  IROQUOIS  411 

30  Indian  village  of  Gardovv.     Ga-da'-o,  Bank  in  Front 

31  Several  villages  were  clustered  here.     O-ha-di,  Crowding  the  Bank,  was  a 

Tuscarora  village;  Squakie  Hill,  or  Da-yo'-it-ga-o,  Where  the  River 
Comes  out  of  the  Hills,  was  a  Seneca  town,  as  were  the  following. 
Ga-neh'-da-on-tweh,  Where  Hemlock  was  Spilled,  was  on  the  site  of 
Moscow.  Little  Beard's  town  was  De-o-nun'-da-ga-a,  Where  the 
Hill  is  Near.  Big  Tree  village  was  Ga-un-do'-wa-na,  Big  Tree. 
So-no'-jo-wau-ga,  or  Big  Kettle,  was  at  Mount  Morris. 

32  Ga-no'-wau-ges,  Fetid  Waters,  Indian  village  near  Avon  Springs 

33  Former  Indian  village  at  Dansville.     Ga-nus'-ga-go,  Among  the  Milkweed 

34  Village  near  Livonia.     De-o'-de-sote,  The  Spring.     A  little  northeast 

was  the  village  of  Ska-hase'-ga-o,  Once  a  Long  Creek,  near  Lima. 

35  Early  village  of  Da-yo'-de-hok-to.  A  Bended  Creek,  on  Honeoye  creek 

36  Early  village  at  Victor.     Ga-o'-sa-ga-o,  In  the  Basswood  Country 

37  Village  at  Canandaigua.     Ga'-nun-da-gwa,  Place  chosen  for  a  Settlement 

38  Supposed  village  near  Naples.     Nun'-da-wa-o,  Great  Hill 

39  Village  at  Kashong.  west  of  Seneca  lake,  Gar-naw-quash 

40  Village    near    Geneva.      Ga-nun'-da-sa-'ga,     New    Settlement    village. 

Others  unnoticed. 

41  Tioga  Point.     Ta-yo'-ga,  At  the  Forks,  a  village  of  Delawares 

42  Elmira.     Skwe'-do-a.  Great  Plain.     Many  villages  in  this  region 

43  Owego.     Ah-wa'-ga,  Where    the  Valley  widens,    abandoned    village. 

Morgan  hardly  notes  those  on  the  Susquehanna. 

44  Village  near  Ithaca.     Ne-o'-dak-he-at.  At   the  End  of  the  Lake 

45  Village  at  Canoga.     Ga-no'-geh,  Oil  on  the  Water 

46  Waterloo.      Skoi'-yase,    Place    of   Whortleberries;    usually    interpreted 

Long  Falls 

47  Village  at  Union  Springs.     Ge-wa'-ga,  Promontory  Running  out 

48  Two   others  south   of  this:   Gwa-u-gweh,   At  the    Mucky    Land,   and 

Ga-ya'-ga-an'-ha.  Inclined  downward.     There  were  others. 

49  Oswego  or  Swa-geh  river,  Flowing  out 

50  Four  Onondaga  villages  are  given  and  are  not  well  located.     Gis-twe- 

ah'-na.  Little  Man,  at  Onondaga  Valley;  Onondaga  Castle,  Ka-na-ta- 
go'-wa,  Big  Village,  at  the  council  house;  Nun-ta-sa'-sis,  Going 
Partly  round  a  Hill,  are  three  of  these. 

51  Tu-e-a-das'-so,  Hemlock  Knots  in  the  Water,  was  farther  east. 

52  Ga-no'-a-lo'-hale,  Head  on  a  Pole,  now  Oneida  Castle 

53  Ga-na'-doque,  Empty  Village,  an  abandoned  village  near  the  last 

54  A  Stockbridge  Indian  village  called  Ah-gote'-sa-ga-nage.     Old  Oneida 

and  the  Tuscarora  towns  are  not  mentioned. 

55  Ta-ga'-soke,   Forked  like  a   Spear,   Indian  village  on  Fish  creek 

56  A  village  on  the  site  of  Camden  was  Ho-sta-yun'-twa. 

57  The   portage   at   Rome   was   called   Da-ya'-hoo-wa'-quat,   Carrying   Place ; 

and  this  name  was  given  to  the  Mohawk  river  above  Herkimer. 

58  West  Canada  creek.    Te-ah-o'-ge,  At  the  Forks,  applied  to  the  Mohawk 

59  Village  in  Danube.     Ga-ne'-ga-ha'-ga,  Possessor  of  the  Flint.     Really 

the  later  Canajoharie. 

60  Fonda.     Indian  village  of  Ga-na-wa'-da,  On  the  Rapids 

61  Fort    Hunter.     Indian   village   of  Te-ah'-ton-ta-loga,    Two    Streams 

meeting 


412  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 

62  Middle   Mohawk   castle   at    Fort   Plain.      Can-a-jo-hi'-e,   Washing   the 

Basin 

63  Johnstown.     Ko-la-ne'-ka,  Indian  Superintendent 

64  Schenectady.     O-no-a-la-gone'-na,  In  the  Head 

65  Albany.     Ska'-neh-ta'-de,  Beyond  the  Openings 

66  Village  north  of  Binghamton.     O-che-nang',  Bull  Thistles. 

67  Susquehanna  river.     Ga'-wa-no-wa'-na-neh,  Great  Island  River 

68  Delaware  river.     Ska-hun-do'-wa,  In  the  Plains 

69  Ticonderoga.     Je-hone-ta-lo'-ga,  Noisy 

70  Lake  Champlain  or  O-ne-a-da'-lote 

71  Little  Salmon  creek.     Ga-nun-ta-sko'-na,  Large  Bark 

72  Salmon  river.     Ga-hen-wa'-ga,  A  Creek 

73  Sandy  creek.     Te-ka'-da-o-ga'-he,  Sloping  Banks 

74  Black   river.     Ka-hu-ah'-go,  Great  or   Wide   River.     This   is   erroneously 

printed  Ka-me-par-go  in  Squier's  Antiquities  of  Nezv  York. 

75  Indian  river.     O-je'-quack,   Nut  River 

76  Oswegatchie,   or   O'-swa-gatch  river 

77  St  Regis.     Ah-qua-sos'-ne,  Partridges  drumming 


4H  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  10 

Part  of  the  Dutch  figurative  chart  annexed  to  the  memorial  of  Aug.  18, 
1616,  which  was  made  from  the  map  of  1614,  and  accurately  copied  for  the 
Documents  Relative  to  the  Colonial  History  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
volume  1.  They  are  the  earliest  maps  we  have  of  the  interior  of  New  York 
and  are  remarkable  for  giving  the  two  divisions  of  the  Five  Nations  always 
made  by  the  Dutch ;  those  of  the  Maquas  or  Mohawks  and  the  Senecas. 
The  maps  are  based  on  the  reports  of  some  Dutchmen,  carried  as  captives 
into  the  interior  and  afterward  ransomed 


State  Museum 


Plate  10 


From  Dutch  map,  1616 


4*6  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE   ii 

Champlain's  sketch  of  the  battle  near  Ticonderoga,  July  30,  1609.  The 
letters  refer  to  his  key.  The  view  places  the  Iroquois  north  of  his  party, 
and  has  but  a  moderate  value,  though  something  may  be  learned  from  it. 
One  Iroquois  shield  appears,  but  no  other  defensive  armor.  Most  draw 
the  bow  with  the  right  hand,  but  some  with  the  left.  The  canoes  are  by 
no  means  typical  and  the  less  said  about  perspective  the  better.  The  picture 
appeared  in  the  edition  of  1613  with  this  key.  A  (wanting),  the  fort; 
B,  enemy;  C,  oak  bark  canoes  of  the  enemy,  holding  10,  15  or  18  men 
each ;  D,  two  chiefs  who  were  killed ;  E,  an  enemy  wounded  by  Champlain's 
musket;  F  (wanting),  Champlain ;  G  (wanting),  two  musketeers;  H,  canoes 
of  the  allies,  Montagnais,  Ochastaiguins  and  Algonquins,  who  are  above; 
1  (also  on  the),  birch  bark  canoes  of  the  allies;  K  (wanting),  woods. 


ff    I 


41 8  NEW   YORK   STATE  MUSEUM 


PLATE  12 

Champlain's  attack  on  an  Iroquois  fort,  October  1615.  The  fort  extended 
into  the  shallow  pond  where  canoes  could  not  be  used.  The  spot  was  satis- 
fatorily  identified  by  Gen.  John  S.  Clark  of  Auburn,  many  years  ago,  and 
is  in  the  Oneida  territory  about  3  miles  east  of  Perryville.  It  was  probably 
soon  abandoned  for  a  stronger  position  nor  does  it  seem  to  have  been  long 
occupied,  but  a  number  of  open  caches  may  be  seen  on  the  higher  lands  not 
far  off.  A  careful  plan  of  the  place  may  be  seen  in  the  bulletin  on  the 
Aboriginal  Occupation  of  Nezv  York.  In  the  picture  much  must  be  allowed 
for  the  fancy  of  the  artist. 


State  Museum 


Plate  12 


KB 


1  jftPftUrxv 


llSi  Hi  B  ,;«CT-  -^k^ 

■  fl    11  Sfc  I  ^   - ! '  "* 


The   Onondaga   Fort 
[After   Champlain's  sketch] 


K~4 


420  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  13 

Lahontan's  'view  of  De  la  Barre's  council  at  La  Famine  (Salmon  River 
N.  Y.)  September  1684.  An  Onondaga  chief  is  speaking,  who  is  the  famous 
orator  usually  called  Garangula.  The  spot  is  at  the  mouth  of  Salmon  river 
in  Oswego  county,  on  the  north  side,  and  represents  fairly  well  the  con- 
ditions of  the  picture.  The  place  received  its  name  in  1656  from  the  famished 
condition  of  the  French  colonists  when  they  reached  it.  It  had  been  intended 
for  their  habitation  but  the  plan  was  changed.  As  a  landing  place  on  Lake 
Ontario  it  had  long  been  a  notable  place  of  resort,  and  was  the  terminus 
of  the  beaver  land  trust  deed.  A  fine  picture  of  this  council  adorns  the 
Flower  Memorial  Library  building  in  Watertown,  in  which  Lahontan's  plan 
is  followed  in  a  general  way.  This  was  the  Great  La  Famine  river.  A 
smaller  stream  farther   west  had  the  prefix  of  little. 


State  Museum 


Plate  13 


The  Cawp     itnrf 
Boats  of  the 

lu^ i»  ik  i.  It  §^  i- it  Awtk   -'4 


M.    DE    LA 

BAR  RES 


CAMP 


,  Interpreter  ..  Interpreter 

/renth    officers  \  -\^..^\  /rend,  officers 

L       ^  yHrJ,l* 


Lake,    Frontenac 


Lahontan's  view  of  De  la  Barre's  council  at  La  Famine  September,  1684 


422  NEW   YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  14 

Communion  plate  presented  by  Queen  Ann  in  1712,  "  to  her  Indian  Chappel 
of  the  Onondawgus,"  now  in  St  Peter's  Church,  Albany  N.  Y.  One  of  the 
cups  was  not  in  the  set  at  first,  but  was  supplied  to  conform  to  American 
usage.  There  was  a  supply  of  linen  with  this  and  the  Mohawk  set.  The 
latter  was  long  used  in  New  York,  but  was  taken  to  Canada  at  the  close 
of  the  colonial  period  and  divided  between  the  two  Mohawk  settlements.  Two 
pieces  went  to  the  Bay  of  Quinte  and  three  to  the  Mohawks  at  Grand  River. 
The  inscription  on  the  one  retained  at  Albany  reads :  "  The  Gift  of  Her 
Majesty,  Ann,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland, 
and  of  their  plantations  in  North  America,  Queen,  to  Her  Indian  Chappel 
of  the  Onondawgus."  Each  piece  has  centrally  the  British  arms  without 
supporters,  with  A  on  one  side  and  R  on  the  other.  Each  of  the  Onondaga 
flagons  is  12^  inches,  and  the  cup  is  4^  inches  across  the  top.  The  style 
is  massive  and  simple.  No  date  appears,  but  they  were  probably  furnished 
not  later  than  1712. 


5 
O 


u 


a 


L> 


4^4  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE  15 

Sir  William  Johnson,  sole  Indian  superintendent  in  colonial  times.  Died 
in  1774.  He  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1715,  and  came  to  America  in  1738  to 
manage  his  uncle's  estate,  soon  becoming  prominent  in  Indian  affairs.  In 
1755  he  was  made  a  baronet  for  his  services  at  Lake  George.  His  published 
manuscript  are  voluminous,  but  a  large  collection  in  the  New  York  State 
Library  have  not  yet  been  published  and  are  now  being  indexed.  The  plate 
is  the  best  portrait  accessible,  but  the  Documentary  History  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  2  1545,  contains  a  good  one  published  in  1756.  An  American 
soldier  writing  at  Johnson  Hall  in  1776,  said :  "  I  had  a  view  of  Sir  William 
Johnson's  picture,  which  was  curiously  surrounded  with  all  kinds  of  beads 
of  Wampum,  Indian  curiosities,  and  trappings  of  Indian  finery,  which  he  had 
received  in  his  treaties  with  the   different  Indian  nations." 


State  Museum 


Plate  15 


426  NEW    YORK   STATE   MUSEUM 


PLATE   16 

George  Romney's  picture  of  Joseph  Brant,  painted  in  England  in  1776,  for 
the  Earl  of  Warwick.  In  that  year  other  pictures  were  made.  Ten  years 
later  his  picture  was  painted  in  England  for  the  Duke  of  Northumberland, 
and  in  1805  one  of  the  best  was  made  by  Mr  Ezra  Ames  of  Albany,  and 
copied  by  Catlin  for  Stone's  Life  of  Brant.  It  is  the  frontispiece  of  the 
second  volume.  There  is  a  fine  statue  of  the  Mohawk  chief  in  Brantford, 
Canada.     Of  his   portraits   Romney's  is   the  finest  known. 


State  Museum 


Plate  16 


Joseph   Brant 


428  NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 


PLATE  17 

Monument  to  Red  Jacket  in  Buffalo  N.  Y.,  unveiled  June  22,  1891.  Five 
Seneca  chiefs  were  reinterred  with  him  in  1884  and  part  of  the  headstones 
appear.  Nine  other  Senecas  were  placed  with  them,  but  the  names  of  these 
were  unknown.  There  were  imposing  ceremonies  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Buffalo  Historical  Society.  In  1891  the  monument  was  completed  and  un- 
veiled on  Forest  Lawn,  the  Hon.  David  F.  Day,  making  the  oration.  Red 
Jacket  died  in  1830,  and  was  supposed  to  be  78  years  old.  His  earlier  and 
later  names  appear  on  the  pedestal. 


State  Museum 


Plate  17 


Monument  to  Red  Jacket,  Buffalo   N.  Y. 


INDEX 


The  superior  figures  tell  the  exact  place  on  the  page  in  ninths;  e.  g.  1383 
means  page  138  beginning  in  the  third  ninth  of  the  page,  i.  e.  about  one  third 
of  the  way  down. 


Abenaki,  see  Abenaquiois. 

Abenaquiois,  other  names,  1383;  kill 
Mohawk  ambassadors,  2165. 

Abenaquis,  40  captured,  2701. 

Abercrombie,  defeated,  3142. 

Achiendase',  2048. 

Adarahta,  237*. 

Adario,  stratagem,  235s. 

Adirondacks,  another  name  for  Al- 
gonquins,  1382;  war  with  Iroquois, 
1504. 

Adjuste,  burned,  365s. 

Agariata,  killed,  2i78-i82. 

Agaritkas,  1378,  256s. 

Agents,  388°. 

Agnieronnons,  1518,  179°. 

Agniers,  159*. 

Agoianders,  1589. 

Agosagenens,  1381. 

Agreskoue',  worship  renounced,  2203. 

Agriculture  of  aborigines,  I39T,  1504. 

Agwrondougwas,  Peter,  mentioned, 
347s. 

Ahatsisteari,  1845. 

Ahookassongh,  at  council,  256*. 

Aireskoi,  sacrifices  to,  1319,  1858. 

Albany,  fort  built  at,  1751;  first  treaty 
between  Iroquois  and  English,  216°; 
peace  at,  22iT;  aids  Mohawks  in 
rebuilding  castle,  236*;  councils  at, 
236',  238s,  242°,  242°,  2521,  253°,  254°, 
2561,  2609,  2641,  2647,  268°,  269',  269s, 
277°,  2859,  3007,  3508;  importance  of 
holding,  2392;  colonial  congresses 
at,  243s,  3005;  opposes  Onondaga 
fort,  253s;  Indian  families  employed 
at,  2600;  Iroquois  reception  at, 
2617;  lodging  houses  at,  26s2;  mes- 
sengers to,  2665;  French  trade, 
3032. 
Alden,  Colonel,  killed,  3618. 


Aleout  destroyed,  3643. 

Algonquins,  territory  of,  13 I4,  1364, 
1385;  language,  1365;  name  and 
character,  1379;  compared  with 
Iroquois,  1427;  treachery,  1506;  war 
with  Iroquois,  1506,  1757;  length  of 
war  with  Iroquois,  1742;  proposed 
peace  with  Iroquois,  1515;  at  found- 
ing of  Montreal,  1521;  expulsion 
from  Canada,  1522,  1532;  peace  con- 
cluded with  Iroquois,  1742,  1883; 
alarmed,  181s;  story  of  Huron  at- 
tack, 1834;  attacked  by  Iroquois, 
1859;  fly,  i86°;  hunt  with  Mo- 
hawks, 1891 ;  treaty  with  Dutch, 
1898;  betrayed  to  Mohawks,  196s; 
of  Ottawa  river  swept  away,  1972 ; 
defeated,  I987;  massacre  of,  2104; 
kill  Garistarsia,  2155;  surprise  On- 
ondagas,  249s. 

Allegany  reservation,  386s;  number 
of  Indians  on,  385*. 

Amherst,  General,  appointment,  3163. 

Andastes,  territory,  1315,  1362;  harass 
Iroquois,  1519;  called  Minquas, 
1651;  Hurons  send  deputies  to, 
1928;  message,  1927;  could  not  help 
Hurons,  1943;  peace  with,  21  Is; 
party  sent  against,  2147;  hostilities, 
21 50;  women  burned  at  Oneida, 
2193;  downfall,  2218,  2262;  Mohawks 
preserve,  223s;  war  with  Iroquois, 
245°.  See  also  Conestogas;  Min- 
quas ;  Susquehannas. 

Andioura,  speaker  at  Quebec,  2002. 

Andrews,  Rev.  William,  mentioned, 
347a- 

Andros,  Gov.  Edmund,  visits  Mo- 
hawks, 223* ;  aids  in  settling  diffi- 
culty between  Iroquois  and  Mary- 
land, 2237. 


430 


NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Andrus-town  destroyed,  3609. 
Animals,    stories   of   man's    relations 

to,  1422. 
Annenraes,      escape,      1923;      spared, 

1923;  death  of,  201°,  2032. 
Annierronnons  Iroquois,  1833. 
Annies,  1594. 

Antouhonorons,  1631,  1635. 
Aontarisati,  burned,  1989. 
Aquadaronde,  sick,  2427. 
Aquanoschioni,  1654. 
Aquendero,     speech     at     Onondaga, 

246s,    son    poisoned,    252s;    enter- 
tained by  Schuyler,  2551. 
Argenson,  Gov.  d',  landed  at  Quebec, 

210*. 
Arms  and  ammunition,   demand  for, 

202s. 
Ashpo,   Samuel,   mentioned,  348*. 
Assensing,  council  at,  3T74. 
Assistaeronons,  1391. 
Atogoiiaekoiian,  2105. 
Atotarho?,  1572,  2551. 
Attikamegues,    attacked   by    Iroquois, 

_M4';. 
Attiwandaronks,   135s. 
Auglaize,  council  at,  3757. 
Auricsville,  shrine,  1913. 
Aurora,  see  Chonodote. 
Avaugour,  Governor  d',  quoted,  21 52. 
Avery,  Rev.  Henry,  mentioned,  348s. 
Avery,  Rev.  Peter,  mentioned,  348"'. 

Baptisms,  at  Onondaga,  2017. 
Baptiste,  Jean,  mission  to  Onondaga, 

200s. 
Baptiste,  Jean,  baptism,  2018. 
Barclay,   Rev.   Henry,   mission,  3182; 

appointed  catechist,  347s. 
Barclay,     Rev.    Thomas,    mentioned, 

3471- 
Barentsen,   Peter,  visit  to  Mohawks, 

174'. 

Barlow,  Colonel,  on  council  at  Al- 
bany, 35ia. 

Baron,  a  Huron  chief,  245s;  settles 
near  Albany,  249s. 

Barre,  Governor  de  la,  replaces 
Count  Frontenac,  227";  letter  of 
Louis  14  to,  230*. 

Bartram,  John,  cited,  1281 ;  naturalist,   j 

282T. 


Bateaux  for  English,  260s. 

Bayard,  Colonel,  on  relations  of  Iro- 
quois to  New  York,  250s. 

Beauchamp,  W.  M.,  cited,  1282. 

Beaucour,  attack  on  Iroquois,  2405. 

Beauharnois,  Governor  de,  proposes 
building  fort  at  Crown  Point, 
274s;  receives  messages  from  On- 
ondagas,  275s;  Indian  name,  279*; 
raises  Indian  chiefs,  279s;  council 
with  Iroquois,  2807,  286s. 

Beaver  land  trust  deed,  2561,  2717. 

Beaver  trade  at  Albany,  253s. 

Belletre,  M.  de,  attack  on  German 
Flats,  3138. 

Bellomont,  Governor,  sends  troops  to 
Albany,  2505;  opinion  of  Iroquois, 
252s;  council  at  Albany,  253"; 
quoted,  2547;  complains  of  Schuy- 
ler, 255' ;  death,  2561. 

Belt,  Old,  mentioned,  311s,  3122,  3 1 6r> ; 
death,  330'. 

Beschefer,  Father,  mentioned,  2T7". 

Big  Flats  burned,  365s. 

Black  Kettle,  killed,  249'. 

Black  Prince,  see  Tochanuntie. 

Blacksmiths,  sent  to  Iroquois  towns, 
2377,  294",  3040;  desired  by  Onon- 
dagas,  238s;  at  Onondaga,  240°, 
258",  279'-';  desired  by  Senecas, 
264*;  in  Seneca  country,  266s,  270s, 
280°,  2902. 

Blacksnake,  Governor,  story,  1821. 

Bleecker,  Capt.  John,  sent  to  Onon- 
daga, 25 13,  25  53,  263s. 

Blew  Bek,  at  Canada,  268°. 

Bliss,  Rev.  Asher,  on  temperance 
societies,  381s. 

Bone  pits,  141°. 

Boundary,  partial  arrangements  for, 
3275;  conference  at  Fort  Stanwix, 
3331 ',  question  settled,  3341;  sig- 
natures to  the  deed,  334°;  colonial 
representatives  present,  334s;  new, 
378s. 

Bounty  on  scalps,  245s,  285s,  288", 
3068,  3134. 

Bouquet,  Colonel,  defeats  Indians, 
32 19. 

Bourdon,  ambassador  to  Mohawks, 
1902. 


INDEX   TO  HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS 


431 


Boutroiiee,  Mile,  godmother  to 
Garakontie',  2212. 

Bowl,  game  of,  141s.  • 

Boyd,  Lieutenant,  captured,  365s;  tor- 
tured, 36s7. 

Boyd,  General,  on  bravery  and  hu- 
manity of  Indians,  383T. 

Boyle,  David,  theory  of  origin  of 
name  Iroquois,  1663. 

Braddock,  Iroquois  at  defeat  of,  304s. 

Bradstreet,  battle  at  Oswego  Falls, 
3089. 

Brainerd,  Rev.  David,  mentioned, 
3477- 

Brant,  Joseph,  education,  3185,  324s; 
interpreter  of  Rev.  Mr  Stuart,  339s; 
secretary  to  Guy  Johnson,  3503;  in 
England,  3517,  3727;  principal 
Iroquois  leader,  3527;  not  at  Battle 
of  the  Cedars,  352s;  returns  from 
England,  352s;  crosses  the  country, 
3S38;  efforts  to  take  him,  353s;  per- 
sonal appearance,  3541 ;  at  Una- 
dilla,  3545;  at  Oswego,  355",  3682; 
attacks  Cobleskill,  3502;  depreda- 
tions, near  German  Flats,  3609, 
369s,  3702;  plans,  3627;  letter  writ- 
ten before  battle  of  Newtown,  364s ; 
burns  Harpersfield,  368*;  attacks 
Canajoharie,  369s;  invades  Scho- 
harie valley,  369s;  damage  south  of 
the  Mohawk,  3704;  in  Canada,  3718; 
visits  western  Indians,  3727 ;  ad- 
dress, to  Congress,  37 31 ;  and  the 
Delawares,  373*;  opposes  Moravian 
Indians,  3731 ',  at  Genesee  country, 
375*;  at  Onondaga,  376*;  at  council 
at  Onondaga  village,  376s;  deposed 
and  restored,  379*. 

Brant,  Molly,  mentioned,  352^;  takes 
refuge  at  Onondaga,  3S7*-s81;  let- 
ter, 361°. 

Brant-  sero,  theory  of  origin  of  word 
Iroquois,  1663. 

Brebeuf,  Father  Jean  de,  on  Iroquois 
language,  1368;  visits  Hurons,  1774, 
177";  estimate  of  Hurons,  1801 ; 
visits  Neutrals,  1815;  tortured, 
195'. 


Brebeufs  New  Testament,  recovery 
of,  2028. 

Bressani,  Father,  captured,  1865,  1872; 
ransomed  by  Dutch,  1866;  tortured, 
1875. 

British,  see  English. 

Brodhead,    Colonel,   expedition,   367*. 

Brothertown  Indians,  384*;  number, 
3846. 

Brower,  Jacob,  killed  at  Oswego 
Falls,  2742. 

Brown,  Colonel,  killed,  369°. 

Brule,  Etienne,  journey  with  Cham- 
plain,  1698 ;  sent  to  Andastes,  170* ; 
adventures,   1711. 

Bruyas,  Jacques,  cited,  1283;  on  name 
of  Mohawks,  1593;  on  name  of 
Iroquois  league,  1654;  at  Oneida, 
2191;  at  Onondaga,  2529-531 ; 
Iroquois  ask  for  return  of,  254*; 
on  rewards,  389s. 

Buffalo,  councils  at,  375s,  379s,  382°; 
defense  of,  3837. 

Buffalo  Creek,  village  at,  374*. 

Bull,  Captain,  prisoner,  325s. 

Bunt,  The,  account  of  French  forts, 
296°;  reception  to  Kirkland, 
3269-271 ;  at  Iroquois  council,  343s ; 
retires  from  office,  344*. 

Burial,  1416. 

Burnet,  Governor,  plan  to  preserve 
Indian  trade,  266s;  council  with 
Iroquois,  2682,  2705,  2713;  builds 
fort  at  Oswego,  2722. 

Buteux,  Father  Jacques,  killed,   1987. 

Butler,    Richard,   mentioned,   372*. 

Butler,  Walter,  fights  against  French, 
2882;  depredations,  359°,  3616;  de- 
feated and  killed,  370*. 

Butler,  Col.  William,  expedition, 
36l4. 

Butler,  Lieut.  Col.  William,  towns  de- 
stroyed by,  366*. 

Butternuts  burned,  3618. 

Cachointioni,    Onondaga   chief,   290'. 
Cadaraqui,  founded,  2219. 
Cahaniaga,  224*. 

Callieres,  M.  de,  invades  Onondaga, 
247s. 


432 


NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Calumet,  246s,  262s,  269',  2808,  312*. 

Cammerhoff,  Frederick,  cited,  1284; 
at  Onondaga  council,  1448;  at 
Onondaga,  294s;  death,  295". 

Campbell,  Mrs,  adopted  by  Senecas, 
3619. 

Campbell,  William  W.,  cited,  1284. 

Canada,  Iroquois  traces  in,  133*,  1496; 
exodus  of  Mohawks  from,  1524; 
temporary  subjection  to  English, 
1757;  ravages  in,  in  1661,  2ii9-i2*; 
missions  in,  2205,  224s,  267s;  pro- 
posed plan  to  destroy  Iroquois, 
234s;  failure  of  English  expedi- 
tion against,  237*;  expedition 
against,  239s;  overrun  by  Iroquois, 
2407;  Onondaga  peace  embassy, 
249s;  beaver  land  trust  deed  in, 
256s;  Iroquois  embassy  to,  268*; 
land  troubles,  379°.  See  also 
French. 

Canadian  Indians,  war  with,  1783; 
successful  in  canoe  fights,  1809;  de- 
feat on  the  Ottawa,  21 11;  go  to 
war,  262*;  desert  French,  3168. 
See  also  French  Iroquois. 

Canadian  Praying  Indians,  243',  253s. 
See  also  Caughnawagas. 

Canagora,  224",  224s. 

Canajoharie,  fortified,  288*;  attacked 
by  Brant,  3690;  council  at,  3158. 

Canajorha,  224". 

Canandaigua,  partly  burned,  365*. 

Canaseraga,  297*. 

Canassatego,  tale  of  man's  creation, 
I32T ;  speaks  for  Moravians  in  coun- 
cil, 1444;  on  Susquehanna  lands, 
277";  speaker  at  Philadelphia,  281*; 
on  value  of  lands,  2817;  prominent 
in  councils,  282°;  described,  283s; 
death,  294*,  295s. 

Caniahaga,  Far  Indians  settle  at, 
295'- 

Canienga,  159*. 

Canisteo,  burned,  326*. 

Cannehoot,  237s. 

Cannibalism,  of  western  Indians, 
233*;  of  Mohawks,   1598,  2417. 

Canoenada,  224s. 


I  Canoes,  of  elm  bark,  I40T ;  as  ladders, 
2037;  for  English,  2608;  and  canoe 
fights,   1808. 

Canonicus,  killed,  223a. 

Canoomakers,  1717. 

Capitanasses,  1718. 

Captives,  adopted,  142s;  treatment  of, 
1789,  2133,  232s,  239s,  246s,  2479-483, 
2619;  returned,  254s,  2550,  3188,  326'; 
exchange  of,  2927. 
1    Carantouanis,   1632. 

Carheil,  Father  £tienne,  resumed 
work  among  Cayugas,  2192;  in 
charge  of  Cayuga  mission,  2214; 
driven  from  Cayuga,  2282. 

Carleton,  conduct,  357*. 

Carolina  Indians,  2637. 

Carrington,  Henry  B.,  cited,  1285; 
report  on  Iroquois,  3851,  3878-9i2. 

Cartier,  Jacques,  finds  Iroquois  in 
Canada,  1496. 

Carundowana,  killed,  2757. 

Castesh,   Seneca  chief,  3311. 

Catawbas,  termed  Flatheads,  1398; 
branches,  1394;  war  with  Iroquois, 
2652,  2847;  part  adopted,  265*;  killed 
by  Iroquois,  277s;  attacked  by 
Iroquois,  278*;  peace  with  Iroquois, 
2802,  280",  295*;  war  with  Senecas, 
281  \  293°;  projected  treaty,  284s; 
character,  2849-8s1 ;  fight  against 
Senecas  and  Cayugas,  3125. 

Catharine's  Town  destroyed,  36s2. 

Cattaraugus  reservation,  386";  num- 
ber of  Indians  on.  385*. 

Caughnawaga,  2251. 

Caughnawagas,  carried  off,  239s; 
treaty  with  Iroquois,  2802;  sent  to 
Iroquois,  298";  French  trade,  3032; 
would  desert  French,  316s;  num- 
ber, 324s;  in  Canada,  351°.  See  also 
Canadian  Praying  Indians. 

Cayonhage,  fort  at,  234*. 

Cayuga  Castle  destroyed,  366". 

Cayugas,  origin,  133*,  134°,  T354 ; 
clans,  1449;  manner  of  advent,  1478; 
sachems,  154',  1584;  early  name, 
1622,  1790;  territory,  1628;  meaning 
of  name,  1624;  council  name,  162"; 
symbols,    i62T,    1648,    339' ;    younger 


INDEX   TO   HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS 


433 


brother,  1648;  mission  among,  208s; 
peace  proposals,  212*;  villages 
north  of  Lake  Ontario,  2193;  num- 
bers, 2109,  2247,  2772,  2912,  3245,  384s, 
385s;  towns,  2247;  Susquehanna 
lands,  229s,  26y5,  272*;  proposals  to 
Governor  Howard  of  Virginia  and 
Governor  Dongan,  2311;  war  with 
Miamis,  245s;  send  messenger  to 
French,  25 15;  losses,  252s;  re- 
turned prisoners,  255s;  council 
at  Pennsylvania,  269°;  offer  to  sell 
lands,  2j2i;  order  Shawnees  to  re- 
turn east,  274s;  chief  killed  at 
Oswego  Falls,  275*;  refuse  to  aid 
English,  2908;  neutral,  293°,  3109; 
at  Oswegatchie,  3004;  at  Quebec, 
3024;  at  Niagara,  309'5;  come  to 
Montreal,  3099;  come  to  Fort 
Johnson,  31  Is;  conference  with 
Cherokee  chiefs,  311";  fight  against 
Catawbas  and  English,  3123;  coun- 
cil at  Easton,  318";  councils  with 
Johnson,  335s,  349";  towns  burned. 
365s;  number  employed  by  English. 
3712;  reservation  acknowledged, 
378s;  land  sales,  379*. 

Cedars,  battle  of,  352'. 

Chamberlain,  Theophilus,  mentioned. 

348*. 

Champlain,  Samuel  de,  cited,  1285, 
133,  151,  1679,  1801;  mentioned, 
135s;  finds  only  Algonquins  on  St 
Lawrence  in  1603,  1503;  on  re- 
movals of  Hurons  and  Senecas, 
1618;  on  Entouhonorons,  1627;  use 
of  name  Iroquois,  165s;  expedition 
of  1609,  1680;  first  battle  with  Mo- 
hawks, i689-692;  battle  of  1610, 
1695;  visits  Hurons,  1697;  invasion 
of  161 5,  1698;  route,  1702;  siege, 
T707;  retreat,  i7o9-7i1;  among  the 
Hurons,  1713;  plan  to  seize 
Iroquois  town,  1759 ;  Champlain's 
map  of   1632,  explanation  of,  3941. 

Chapel  built,  2047. 

Chapin,   General,   mentioned,  376°. 

Chaplains  for  garrisons  at  Onon- 
daga and  Oneida,  305'. 


Charlevoix,  P.  F.  X.  de,  cited,  1285; 
on  Iroquois  Turtle  clan,  1464;  on 
origin  of  Iroquois  war,  1503;  on 
superiority  of  Iroquois  in  war, 
1 5 11;  on  symbols,  1643;  on  Iroquois 
name,  1657;  on  complaints  of 
Montmagny,  1839;  on  Neutrals, 
1973;  story  of  Le  Moyne,  2024;  on 
La  Famine,  2063;  on  Jesuits'  house 
on  Onondaga  lake,  2076;  on  pun- 
ishment for  murder  of  Frenchmen, 
2178;  on  proposed  intercourse  with 
Ottawas,  2317;  on  La  Grande 
Gueule,  234s;  on  Iroquois  in 
Canada,  2407;  on  character  of 
Frontenac,  248s;  on  failure  of 
Frontenacs  plans,  2487;  on  Mo- 
hawks flattered  by  French  and 
English,  25o9-si2;  on  Garakontie', 
25f- 

Charlevoix's  map  of  1745,  explana- 
tion of,  4041. 

Chasy,  Sieur  de,  killed,  2177. 

Chaumonot,  Father  Joseph,  visits 
Neutrals,  1815;  journey  to  Onon- 
daga, 2043 ;  winter  at  Onondaga, 
2059;  visits  Senecas  and  Oneidas, 
2088. 

Chauvignerie,  at  Onondaga,  262s, 
288s;  goes  to  Senecas,  267s;  at 
Onondaga  and  Oswego,  273-;  re- 
port on  New  York  and  Canadian 
Iroquois,  276s ;  forms  a  band 
against  English,  309°. 

Cheahogah,  3408. 

Chemung,  towns  burned  on,  326s. 

Chemung  burned,  364s. 

Chenango,  Indians  from,  349°. 

Cherokees,  1363,  139*;  other  names, 
!396;  peace  with  Iroquois,  2802, 
280°,  3122,  332°;  peace  deputies, 
2/7',  336s;  war  with  French  In- 
dians, 278°;  kill  Iroquois,  297' ;  war 
parties  against,  297s;  joined  the 
English,  309*;  chiefs,  council  with 
Johnson,  31 16;  at  Johnson  Hall, 
33iG. 

Cherry  valley,  Campbell  house  forti- 
fied at,  353*;  destroyed,  361s ; 
depredations  at,  3703. 


434 


NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Chew,  Joseph,  on  missionary  work, 
336s;  Indian  name,  3441. 

Chickasaws,  covenant  with  Iroquois, 
280*. 

Chickataubutt,  killed,  2198. 

Chictaghicks,  1383. 

Chiefs,  see  Sachems. 

Chippewa,  battle  of,  383s. 

Chippewas,  other  names,  1389.  See 
also  Far  Indians. 

Choctaws,  termed  Flatheads,  1394; 
covenant  with  Iroquois,  2808. 

Choharo,  burned,  3665. 

Chonodote,  destroyed,  366s. 

Christians,  Henry,  commandant  of 
fort  at  Albany,  1753. 

Churches,  3918. 

Citizenship,  388s,  3911. 

Claese,  Lawrence,  mentioned,  266*. 

Clans,  Iroquois,  134-,  i448-47\ 

Clark,  J.  V.  H.,  cited,  1286;  on  origin 
of  Oneidas,  1344;  on  Onondaga 
clans,  145*;  on  date  of  Iroquois 
league,  i+tf;  Hiawatha  legend, 
T55°;  on  La  Fort  being  chosen 
leader,  383°. 

Clark,  John  S,  cited,  128°,  2197. 

Clarke,  Lieutenant  Governor,  con- 
ference at  Albany,  277°;  prevents 
establishment  of  French  post,  278*; 
council  with  Iroquois,  27s7,  280*. 

Clans,  Colonel,  appointed  commander 
of  Indians  in  Canada,  3551 ;  opinion 
of  St  Leger,  357*. 

Clause,  Daniel,  translates  Johnson's 
speech,  303*. 

Clausen,  sent  to  Onondaga,  263". 

Clear   Sky,   mentioned,  376\ 

Clinton,  Governor,  councils,  284°, 
288',  289°;  asks  Indians  to  fight, 
2857. 

Clinton,  General,  route  of,  363°-64°. 

Cobleskill,  attack  on,  359*,  370s- 

I  olden,  Cadwallader,  cited,  1287,  1382; 
on  eloquence  1  if  I  r<  >qu<  »is,  1  t.V  ;  on 
origin  of  Iroquois  war.  150s;  on 
success  of  Iroquois  in  war,  150°; 
on  fear  of  Mohawks,  1808;  on 
slaves,  20iT;  mi  treaty  between 
Iroquois  and  English,  _'i67;  on 
punishment  for  murder  of  French- 


men, 218";  on  Dekanissora,  225°, 
243°;  on  De  la  Barre's  expedition, 
229s;  on  collection  of  tribute,  2315; 
on  council  at  Onondaga,  2367;  on 
settlement  at  Schaghticoke,  2377; 
on  Mohawks  attacked  by  French, 
2410;  on  cannibalism  of  Mohawks, 
2417;  on  presents  to  Indians,  242°; 
on  council  at  Albany,  243°;  on 
death  of  Black  Kettle,  2503;  papers 
helped  founding  of  Oswego,  270s; 
account  of  Sir  William  Johnson, 
286° ;  on  disputes  between  Mohawks 
and  the  other  Five  Nations,  286s- 
872;  at  Iroquois  council,  287s;  on 
war  dance  of  Iroquois,  287s;  plans, 

3249-251- 

Colonial  unity,  need  of,  243s. 

Colonies,  Iroquois  names,  269'. 

Comet,  terrors  of,  212". 

Communion  sets  for  Indians,  2621. 

Conestoga,  council,  260'"';  lands  sur- 
rendered, 268*. 

Conestogas,  at  war  with  Tuscaroras, 
262°;  sell  land,  267s;  old  names, 
2691 ;  controlled  by  Iroquois,  269s; 
killed,  325". 

Conesus,  burned,  365s. 

Congress,  wishes  Indian  aid,  3520- 
53: ;  address  sent  to,  3731. 

Congress  of  seven  colonies  in  Al- 
bany, 300'. 

Connaughtoora,  council  at  Williams 
burg,  265*. 

Connecticut,  represented  at  council  at 
Albany,  2430 ;  Iroquois  deputies  to, 
320";    land    sale,    302';    land    deed, 

302T. 

Conover,  George  S.,  cited,  1287;  on 
derivation  of  name  Seneca,  1630. 

Conoys,  1395. 

Coreorgonel,  366*. 

Corlaer,  see  Van  Curler. 

Complanter,  speech,  367s-68' ;  joins 
Sir  John  Johnson  in  Schoharie 
valley,  369*;  brought  about  treaty 
of  T/84,  372*;  in  Philadelphia,  37^', 
attends  council  at  Auglaize,  3757; 
sells  land,  377*;  thought  war 
certain,  377*. 


INDEX   TO   HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS 


435 


Cornplanter  reservation,  3S69. 

Cornplanter  Senecas,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, number,  384s. 

Coronelli's  map  of  1688,  1817;  ex- 
planation of,  4001. 

Cosby,  Governor,  conference  with  Six 
Nations,  275*. 

Council,  see  Grand  Council. 

Council  fire  removed,  3033. 

Council  name  of  each  nation,  1599; 
of  Oneidas,  1611;  of  Onondagas, 
1617;  of  Cayugas,  1628;  of  Senecas, 
163s;  of  Tuscaroras,  1643. 

Councils  with  Iroquois,  see  Iroquois, 
councils  with. 

Courcelle,  Governor  de,  goes  against 
Mohawks,  2173;  expedition  to  Fort 
St  Anne,  2184;  godfather  to  Gara- 
kontie',  2212;  action  on  murder  of 
Indians  in  1670,  2213;  ascends  the 
river  to  Lake  Ontario,  2218;  forbids 
war  between  Senecas  and  Ottawas, 

221°. 

Coursey,  Colonel,  ambassador  from 
Maryland  to  Indians,  224*. 

Couture,  William,  killed  an  Indian 
chief,  184';  mentioned,  1883. 

Coyne,  James  H.,  cited,  128s. 

Creative  myths,  1322. 

Creeks,  covenant  with  Iroquois,  280°. 

Cresap,  Colonel,  murder  of  Logan's 
family,  342s. 

Creuxius's  chart  of  the  Huron 
country,  with  the  same  map,  ex- 
planation of,  398s-99". 

Creuxius's  map  of  1660,  explanation 
of,  3981. 

Crimes,  few,  387s. 

Croghan,  George,  council  at  Logs- 
town,  296T;  on  western  Indians, 
3002;  goes  to  Pennsylvania,  312°; 
meets  Pontiac,  z2?- 

Crosby,  Aaron,  mentioned,  348"'. 

Crown  Point,  English  fort  planned 
at,  260*;  Fort  St  Frederick  at,  274s; 
fight  near,  288s. 

Currietown,  depredations  at,  3702. 

Cusick,  Albert,  on  council  name  of 
Mohawks,  1601;  on  meaning  of 
name  Cayugas,  162'*. 


Cusick,  David,  cited,  1288;  creative 
myth,  1325;  story  of  national 
origin,  I329~332;  on  story-telling, 
1423;  on  tribes,  1463;  chronology, 
1479;  says  nothing  of  Hiawatha, 
1562;  on  first  ruler,  1572;  enu- 
merated 13  successive  Atotarhos, 
1 57*;  on  council  name  of  the  Mo- 
hawks, 1599;  on  meaning  of  name 
Cayugas,  1624;  on  council  name  of 
Senecas,  1638;  on  name  of  Iro- 
quois, 165s.;  on  Erie  origin,  1822; 
on  primitive  name  of  Lake  Erie, 
1824. 

Cusick,  Rev.  James,  founded  a  tem- 
perance society,  38iT. 

Customs,  changing,  3381. 

Dablon,  Father  Claude,  journey  to 
Onondaga,  2043;  on  building  of 
chapel,  2047;  winter  at  Onondaga, 
2056;  return  to  Montreal,  2057. 

Daillon,  De  la  Roche,  visits  Neutrals, 

I773,  I777. 
Dakayenensese,      Isaac,      mentioned, 

347s- 

Dalton,  Captain,  mentioned,  371*'. 

Dances,  1419. 

Daniel,  Antoine,  visit  to  Hurons, 
1775;  killed,  194'. 

Davost,  visit  to  Hurons,  177s. 

Dawson,  Sir  J.  W.,  cited,  1289. 

Dayagoughderesesh,  340s. 

Dean,  James,  cited,  1289;  story  of 
origin,  132'' ;  letter,  3602. 

Dearborn,  Lieut.  Col.  Henry,  houses 
destroyed  by,  3661. 

De  Celoron,  goes  to  Ohio,  292s. 

Dehoriskanadia,  366s. 

Dekanawidah,  1567. 

Dekanissora,  eloquence,  1437,  225s; 
described,  225*;  speaker,  225*,  2432, 
2618;  intends  to  fight  the  Illinois, 
2271;  at  Quebec,  243s;  at  council  at 
Albany,  243s ;  proposes  exchange  of 
prisoners,  2513;  goes  to  Kaneenda, 
255';  allows  captives  to  return, 
255°;  on  Indian  method  of  fighting, 
262s;  singing  war  song,  2632;  re- 
turns to  Onondaga,  263*;  returns 
English  hatchet,  2647. 


436 


XEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 


De  la  Barre,  at  La  Famine,  228s; 
displaced,  2307. 

De  la  Chauvignerie,  at  Onondaga, 
2607. 

De  Laet,  tales  of  fort  at  Albany,  1751. 

Delancey,  Gov.  James,  succeeds  Os- 
borne, 298";  says  commander  of 
fort  at  Onondaga  might  be  made  a 
sachem,  3018. 

De  la  Potherie,  Bacqueville,  cited, 
1291,  1508. 

Delaware,  lands  on  sold,  276*. 

Delaware  country  raided,  359*. 

Delaware  name  of  Senecas,  1638. 

Delawares,  tradition  of  national 
origin,  1328;  early  homes,  1385; 
character,  2441;  conference  in 
Philadelphia,  244*;  tributary  to 
Iroquois,  259s,  262°;  controlled  by 
Iroquois,  2094,  273s;  called  women, 
272s,  3067;  lands  purchased  from, 
276s;  reproved  by  Iroquois  for  sell- 
ing lands,  28i9-824;  hostile  to  Iro- 
quois, 3040;  deserters  among,  3061; 
side  with  French,  3064;  war  with 
Pennsylvania,  3064;  reproved,  3067; 
at  Onondaga  lake  council,  3079; 
treaty  with  Iroquois,  3088;  con- 
ference with  Johnson,  3084,  2>21%\ 
declared  men,  3084,  3801;  in  Ohio 
trouble  with  French,  3128;  council 
at  Easton,  3144;  Iroquois  go 
against,  325?;  prisoners,  325*; 
towns  in  New  York  destroyed, 
326s;  fly  to  Shawnees,  326°;  Brant 
opposes,  373*. 

Dellius,  Dominie,  on  name  of  Iro- 
quois, 1655;  sent  to  Canada,  2506; 
grant  vacated,  252s;  among  the 
Mohawks,  346s. 

De  Longueuil,  proposals  to  Onon- 
dagas  and  Oneidas,  2608;  at  Onon- 
daga, 261 l,  264°;  leaves  Onondaga, 
2612;  adopted  by  Onondagas,  2677; 
succeeds  De  la  Jonquiere,  297'. 

De  Nonville,  on  French  colony  at 
Onondaga  lake,  2078,  2088;  displaces 
De  la  Barre,  2308;  letters  to  Don- 
gan,    232';    treachery,    232s;    sends 


prisoners  to  France,  2327;  invasion, 
232s;  lands  at  Irondequoit  bay, 
2332;  takes  possession  of  Seneca 
villages,  233*. 

De  Peyster,  J.  Watts,  cited,  I291. 

Deserters,  258s;  from  Oswego,  3059. 

De  Tonty,  wounded,  2261;  retained 
Indian  presents,  2587. 

Detroit,  investment  of,  3209-2i\ 

Detroit  river,  council  held  on,  3731. 

De  Vaudreuil,  destroys  Oneida,  248s. 

De  Vries,  David  Petersen,  cited,  1292. 

Diaquanda,  3366. 

Dieskau,  Baron,  captured,  3039. 

Diplomacy,  I43x. 

Dish,  game  of,  141". 

Dissatisfaction  among  Indians,  3303. 

Dollier  with  La  Salle,  2208. 

Donehogawa  mentioned,  3903. 

Dongan,  Governor,  mentioned,  2297 ; 
action  on  Susquehanna  lands,  229s; 
on  importance  of  Iroquois,  2314; 
letters  to  De  Nonville,  2321;  on 
liquors  among  Indians,  232s;  pay- 
ment for  land  grant,  276s. 

Douw,     Volkert,     chosen    firekeeper, 

35i7. 

Dowaganhaes,  other  names,  1386;  kill 
Senecas,  252s ;  covenant  with 
English,  2609.     Sec  also  Ottawas. 

Dress,  1409. 

Dugouts,  1408. 

Dunlap,  William,  cited,  1292;  Hi- 
awatha legend,  1559. 

Du  Quesne,  on  Abbe  Picquet,  2921 ; 
council  with  Iroquois,  3023. 

Dutch,  trade  with  Iroquois,  1710,  1778; 
maps  of  1614  and  1616,  1718;  cap- 
tives released,  1728;  treaty  at 
Tawasentha,  172';  attack  Mohawks, 
1745;  defeated  by  Mohawks,  1748; 
massacre  of  Indians  by,  1852 ;  treaty 
with  Mohawks  and  Algonquins, 
1898;  give  presents  to  Mohawks, 
1984;  Indian  troubles,  205';  Mo- 
hawk alliance,  2052,  210°,  2224; 
treatment  of  Indians,  236°;  rela- 
tions to  Iroquois,  2508. 

Dutch  Bastard,  party  led  by,  1967, 
2178. 


INDEX   TO   HISTORY   OF   THE   NEW    YORK   IROQUOIS 


437 


Earthenware,  1400. 

Earthquake,  terrors  of,  212". 

East  Cayuga  destroyed,  366s. 

Eastern  Indians,  1383. 

Easton  councils,  3093,  3127,  3144,  3186. 

Eau,  Chevalier  d\  seized,  238s;  escape, 
2381. 

Education  of  Indians,  3184,  3195,  323s, 
326',  347s-48n,  389";  disappointing 
results,  348'. 

Eighteen  Mile  creek,  Indian  name, 
1818;  boundary  between  Eries  and 
Neutrals,  182"'. 

Elkins,  James,  trader,  175'. 

Elmira,  council  at,  374s. 

Eloquence  of  Iroquois,  1431. 

England.  Indians  taken  to,  26o\ 

English,  take  Canada,  175s;  aid  Min- 
quas,  214s;  treaties  with  Iroquois, 
2160,  2409,  250';  desirous  of  alliance 
with  Ottawas,  230s;  treatment  of 
Indians,  236°;  attempt  on  Canada  in 
1690,  237';  agents  at  Onondaga, 
238',  25  r,  263°;  missions  proposed, 
238";  missionaries  to  Iroquois 
necessary,  257*;  expedition  against 
French.  23'/:  build  Onondaga  fort, 
242-';  protection  for  Iroquois,  2505 ; 
relations  to  Iroquois,  2507;  Iroquois 
canoes  for,  2601 ;  council  with  Iro- 
quois, 2609,  2705 ;  embassy  to 
Senecas,  266s;  post  at  Irondequoit, 
268*;  at  Oswego  Falls,  2711;  oppose 
French  trading  house,  273''-741 ; 
protection  extended,  278s;  ani- 
mosity toward,  285°;  give  scalp 
bounty,  285s;  invade  Montreal, 
2892;  traders,  293s;  to  live  among 
Iroquois,  301';  fight  against  Senecas 
and  Cayugas,  3125;  occupy  Illinois, 
327°;  Indians  employed  by,  3712; 
care  of  Indians  near  Buffalo,  374'; 
difficulties  settled,  378';  Iroquois 
declare  war  against,  383". 

English  forts,  proposed,  234*,  3157; 
at  Lake  George  and  Crown  Point, 
2604;  five  abandoned,  3056;  Iro- 
quois wish  certain  abandoned,  3237. 

English  language  spoken  by  Iroquois, 
3883. 


English    scalp    in   cabin    of    Cayugas, 

3io*. 
Ennikaragi,  1387. 
Entouhonorons,  1350,  1597,  1627. 
Eriehronon,   1939. 
Eries,  territory,  1315,  1362;  name  and 

territory    1822;    origin,     1823;    and 

Neutrals,   boundary  between,    1825; 

account    of,    1939 ;    war,    2028,    2031 ; 

exact    location,    2029;    chief    town, 

2042. 
Esopus,  new  hostilities  at,  2157. 
Esopns  Indians,  treaty,  2118. 
Esther,  Queen,  359s,  3607,  3751. 
Estiaghicks,  1389. 
Etiquette,  1421. 
European  ornaments,  1520. 
European  trade,  early,   1532. 
Evans,  Lewis,  geographer,  282s. 
Explanation  of  maps,  393-428. 
Eyendeegen,   present  at  council   with 

Munseys,  3141. 

Famine  among  Senecas,  2810. 

Far   Indians,    other   names,    138";    at 

Albany,  258°,  269' ;  invited  to  trade, 

268°;   treachery,  275';   castles,  295s. 

See  also  Mississagas ;  Ojibwas. 
Farmer's    Brother,    mentioned,    379s; 

eloquence,  143°;  description,  3820. 
Feasting  on  enemies'  flesh,  3082. 

is,  Iroquois,  141s. 
Fire  Nation,  139*. 
Eire  keepers  chosen,  351 ,;. 
Flatheads,    nations    termed,    1393;    at 

war  with  Iroquois,  265s;   war  with 

Senecas,  268T,  2811;   send  wampum 

to  English,  2887. 
Fletcher,     Governor,     Indian     name, 

2_|2! ;  calls  council,  243s. 
Food    of    aborigines,    1397;    Mohawk 

ideas  of,  2419. 
Forbes,  Rev.  Eli,  mentioned,  3481. 
Fort  Brewerton  built,  3169. 
Fort  Bull,  destroyed,  305^. 
Fort  Duquesne,  French  commander's 

comments    on    Six    Nations,    3139; 

evacuated,  3143. 


438 


NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Fort  Frontenac,  founded,  2219; 
abandoned,  227s;  conference  of  De 
la  Barre  with  Hotreouate',  228s;  60 
men  seized  and  imprisoned,  232°; 
convoy  of  canoes  surprised  near, 
2347 ;  invested  by  900  Iroquois,  235" ; 
decayed,  239s ;  restored,  2437,  246s; 
provisioning  of,  252s;  Ottawas  at, 
258s;     strengthened,     3035;     taken, 

3H2. 

Fort  Harmar,  treaty  of,  3780. 

Fort  Hunter  flats  conveyed  to  the 
king,  275s. 

Fort  Johnson,  council  at,  31 12,  31 18. 

Fort  Levis,  opposes  English,  3175. 

Fort  Orange,  built,  174°;  fur  trade, 
1753;  conference  at,  205s. 

Fort  Richelieu,  burned,  1919. 

Fort  St  Frederick  at  Crown  Point, 
274s. 

Fort  Saratoga,  destroyed,  286". 

Fort  Stanwix,  boundary  conference 
at,  3337 ;  conference  at,  3501;  in- 
vested, 355s;  treaty  of,  3719. 

Fort  Sullivan,  366s. 

Fort  Vercheres,  attacked,  240'. 

Fort  William  Henry  surrendered, 312s. 

Forts,  1399,  3049,  3051;  built  by  De 
Tracy,  216s;  English,  234*,  260*, 
3059,  3157,  3237;  contracts  for  build- 
ing, 262*;  French,  forbidden  by 
Iroquois,  295°;  French,  Indians  fear 
building  of,  3205;  destroyed  by 
Webb,  3091.  See  also  under  names 
of  places. 

Fowler,  David,  sent  to  teach  at 
Oneida,  326s. 

Fox  Indians,  territory,  1393;  propose 
joining  Iroquois,  245°;  wish  to  live 
with  Senecas,  2741 ;  at  war  with 
Iroquois,  274°. 

Franklin,     Governor,     Indian     name, 

334\ 
Frederick,  Charles,  goes  to  Onondaga, 

299*. 
Freeman,  Rev.    Bernardus,   work  of, 

Fremin,  Father  Jacques,  goes  to  the 
Mohawks,  2i89-i9x;  goes  to  Onon- 
daga, 2207;  retired,  228'. 


French,  power  developing  in  Canada, 
1765;  Iroquois  retaliate  on,  1785; 
attacked  by  Mohawks,  1827,  1967; 
attacked  by  Iroquois,  1859,  21  r, 
214°;  war  with  Iroquois,  1913,  2103, 
235s,  245s,  2831,  287";  ask  Massa- 
chusetts for  help,  1922;  asks  alli- 
ance of  Boston  against  Iroquois, 
1983;  grant  of  Onondaga  lands, 
2067;  deaths,  2089;  plots  against, 
2091;  prisoners  restored  to,  2124; 
treaty  with  Iroquois,  2172,  2189, 
254* ;  hunters  killed  by  Mohawks, 
2177;  claims  to  Iroquois  lands,  2187, 
278*;  claims  to  Ohio  lands,  2971, 
297°;  arbitration  rejected,  2211;  in- 
vasion of  Iroquois  country  under 
De  la  Barre,  227s;  desertions  of  sol- 
diers, 2309;  under  De  Nonville,  at- 
tack on  Senecas,  2332;  plan  for 
destroying  Iroquois,  234s;  alliance, 
refused,  237°;  expedition  against, 
239s;  weakness  of,  239°;  attack 
Iroquois  at  Toniata,  2403;  attack 
Mohawks,  2413;  scalp  bounty  with- 
drawn, 2453;  number  invading 
Onondaga,  2471 ;  defeat  Iroquois, 
2487;  killed  by  western  Indians, 
249*;  relations  to  Iroquois,  2507 ; 
agents  at  Onondaga,  2512,  2529-53\ 
2607,  2611 ;  prisoners  brought  back 
by  Iroquois  deputies,  254s;  post  at 
Irondequoit,  26s1;  at  Oswego  Falls, 
267";  among  Iroquois,  270s;  en- 
croachments on  Iroquois,  2710;  pro- 
pose to  destroy  fort  at  Oswego, 
272s;  voyageurs  avoid  Oswego, 
2734;  post  at  bay  of  Cayugas,  2730; 
establishment  of  post  prevented, 
278s;  Onondaga  embassy  to,  278s; 
council  with  Iroquois,  2803 ; 
Iroquois  divided  on  war  with,  2867 ; 
Waller  Butler  fights  against,  288J; 
advance  from  Crown  Point  to  Lake 
George,  288s;  not  allowed  to  live 
in  Iroquois  country,  290';  on  the 
Ohio,  _'oj';  activity,  293 ' ;  influence 
in  Onondaga,  294s,  297°;  Tanacha- 
risson  sends  warnings  to,  2992 ; 
occupy   Ticonderoga,   304°;   destroy 


INDEX  TO   HISTORY  OF   THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS 


439 


Fort  Bull,  305°;  deserted  by  Cana- 
dian Indians,  3168;  plans,  3077; 
make  Indians  hostile,  3207.  See 
also  Canada. 

French  belt,  3442. 

French  colony,  at  Onondaga  lake, 
2044;  embarks  from  Quebec,  205s; 
assailed  by  Mohawks,  2059;  hunger 
at  La  Famine,  2062;  relief  at 
Oswego  Falls,  2064;  reception  at 
Onondaga  lake,  2065;  preparations 
for  flight,  2093;  escape  from  de- 
struction, 2099;  arrival  at  Montreal, 
2093. 

French  flag,  2803. 

French  fort  attacked  by  Iroquois, 
1843 ;  at  Onondaga,  attempt  to 
build,  261- ;  at  Niagara,  265°;  for- 
bidden by  Iroquois,  295s;  Indians 
fear  building  of,  3205. 

French  Indians,  attack  Iroquois,  246s ; 
war  with  Cherokees,  278'"' ;  inva- 
sions near  Albany,  286*.  See  also 
Canadian   Indians. 

French  Iroquois,  surrender  prisoners, 
234s;  losses.  240s;  embassy  to,  251*; 
figbt  against  English,  2881 ;  refused 
to  attack  English  at  battle  of  Lake 
George,  3048 ;  with  Montcalm,  3124; 
number,  384".  See  also  Canadian 
Indians. 

French  settlement  proposed  by  Mo- 
hawks, 182s;  place  for,  2023. 

French  trade,  controlled  by  Hurons, 
1817;  plan  to  preserve,  266";  at 
Niagara  and  Frontenac,  276s;  at 
Albany,  3033. 

Frey,  Barent,  35a3. 

Frey,    Henry,    comes    to    Onondaga, 

2QQ7. 

Frontenac,  Count,  at  Lake  Ontario, 
221s;  council  with  Iroquois,  2219; 
flattery,  2221 ;  council  with  Kiska- 
kons,  Hurons  and  others,  2271; 
replaced  by  Governor  de  la  Barre, 
227s ;  becomes  governor,  2327 ;  re- 
turn from  France,  236',  2372;  treat- 
ment of  captives,  240' ;  plan  to  at- 
tack Albany,  2391 ;  council  with 
Ottawas,  2461;  his  force,  247*;  in- 


vades Onondaga,  247s;  route,  247s; 
rushes  showing  force  arrayed 
against,  247*;  camp,  247s;  charac- 
ter, 248s;  troubles  with  Onondagas, 
249s,  2501;  death,  25 13;  fur  trade, 
276s. 

Frontier  posts,  retained  by  British, 
3729. 

Frontier  troubles,  341°. 

Fur  trade,  1921,  258s;  at  Fort 
Orange,  1753;  at  Niagara  and 
Frontenac,   276s. 

Gachoos,  i7iT. 

Gachradodon,  speech,  2837. 

Gage,  Gen.  Thomas,  opinion  of  Pon- 
tiac,  325s. 

Gaghsegwarohare,  365°. 

Gahronho,  2158. 

Gajukas,  1623. 

Gallatin,  Albert,  cited.  1292;  on 
Seneca  word  for  south,  1818 ;  dis- 
agrees with  Heckewelder,  244s. 

Gallinee  with  La  Salle,  220s. 

Games,  1413. 

Ganatisgoa,  297*. 

Ganawese,  tribute  to  Onondagas,  259s. 

Gandaouague',  attack  on,  2193;  pali- 
saded castle,  2199. 

Gandiaktena,   Catharine,  2205. 

Ganeodiyo,  mission  of,  3809. 

Gannagaro,  233s. 

Gannondata,   233s. 

Gannongarae,  233". 

Gansevoort,  Colonel,  sent  to  Fort 
Stanwix,  3671. 

Ganuskago,   Senecas   from,  305*. 

Ganyadariyo,  1569. 

Garakontie',  2007,  2045;  frees  French 
prisoner,  2008;  favors  French,  2092; 
French  cared  for  by,  2104;  kind- 
ness to  captives,  2133;  rank  and 
name,  2134;  prepares  another  peace 
embassy,  2163;  baptized  and  con- 
firmed, 2211;  speaks  before  Count 
Frontenac,  22 19;  character,  222°; 
death,  222". 

Garakontie'  2,  speaks  at  Onondaga, 
2284;  saves  life  of  Jean  de  Lam- 
berville,  232°;  death,  2572. 


440 


NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Garangula,  see  Hotreouate'. 

Gariove',  son  of  sent  to  Montreal, 
2433- 

Garistarsia,  killed,  2155. 

Gamier,  Father  Charles,  killed,  196*. 

Gamier,  Father  Julien,  goes  to 
Onondaga,  2192,  2207;  retired,  228"; 
sent  to  Onondagas  and  Senecas, 
2S5T- 

Garnier's  book  of  devotions,  recov- 
ery of,  2028. 

Garonhiague',  Oneida  chief,  2252; 
killed,  232". 

Garreau,  Father,  killed,  2088. 

Gaskonchiague',  fort  proposed  at,  25S4. 

Geghtigeghroones,   1388. 

Geneseo,  destroyed,  365s. 

Geneseo  Indians,  at  conference,  3205; 
hostile,  3215. 

Genherontatie ',  235s. 

Gentaieton,  chief  Erie  town,  2042. 

George,  (Seneca),  speaker  at  Easton, 
3186;  speech,  335s,  3361. 

George,  King,  asks  Iroquois  aid,  349s. 

German  Flats,  council  at,  3216,  329", 
3364,  35o6;  destroyed,  3136,  3611; 
attacked,  368*. 

Gestures,  1441. 

Gibson,  General,  quoted,  377s. 

Ginseng,  29715,  328s. 

Glen,  Governor,  complains  of 
Senecas,  293". 

Glen,  Johannes,  jr,  to  reside  at  Onon- 
daga, 25 18. 

Gooneaseahne,  1655. 

Gothsinquean,  burned,  365s. 

Goupil,  Rene,  killed  by  Mohawks, 
1848. 

Government,  present,  390*. 

Goyogoh,  1624. 

Goyoguins,   162s ;   symbols,   1644. 

Grain  pits,  1419. 

Grand  Council,  representation  in, 
T468;  vote  by  nations,  I54°-551. 

Granger,  Erastus,  council  at  Buffalo, 
382'. 

Grangula,  see  Hotreouate'. 

Great  Tree,  friendly,  3608;  in  Phila- 
delphia, 373s;  speech,  3739-742; 
death,  374a. 


Greenhalgh,  Went  worth,  journey  of, 

224*. 
Grenadier  island,  3177. 
Griffon,  launched  by  La  Salle,  2257. 
Grinding  meal,  141". 
Guastarax,  Seneca  chief,  3311;  death, 

337s;  bad  belts  sent  by,  3412. 
Guns,     use     of,      151'';     bought     by 

Iroquois,  1779. 
Gweugweh,  1625. 

Haaskouan,  234s,  235'. 

Haldimand,  General,  and  Iroquois, 
36f. 

Hale,  Horatio,  cited,  1293;  on 
Iroquois  language,  1367;  on 
Iroquois  clans,  1451,  1471 ;  chro- 
nology, 1479;  on  date  of  Iroquois 
league,  1494,  1546;  Hiawatha 
legend,  1563;  on  derivation  of 
name  Seneca,  1637 ;  on  Mohawk 
name  of  Iroquois,  T654;  theory  of 
origin  of  word  Iroquois,  1661 ; 
says  Iroquois  never  burnt  women, 
1S54. 

Half  King,  see  Tanacharisson. 

Half  Town  in  Philadelphia,  373s. 

Halsey,  Francis  W.,  cited,  129s,  354*. 

Hamilton,  Governor,  on  Iroquois  on 
branches  of  the  Mississippi,  2937. 

Hancock,  John,  Indian  name,  352®. 

Handsome  Lake,  mission  of,  3808. 

Llanjost,   death,  36s7,  366s. 

Hansen,  Hendrick,  ambassador  to 
French,  251°;  sent  to  Onondaga, 
263s. 

Haratsion,   killed,  234'. 

llarmar,   General,   defeat.   373^. 

Harper,    Col.   John,   mentioned,   353s. 

I larpcrsficld,  full  of  refugees,  358"; 
burned,  368*. 

Harris,  John,  on  death  of  Tana- 
charisson, 301". 

Hartley,  Col.  Thomas,  operations, 
360s. 

Hawley,   Gideon,   mentioned,  347". 

Hazard,   Samuel,  cited,   120,'. 

Heckewelder,  J.  G.  E.,  cited.  1294; 
chronology,  1488;  on  Delaware 
name  of   Senecas,    163s;   on  pea^e- 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK   IROQUOIS 


441 


makers  among  the  Indians,  244s; 
on  character  of  the  Delawares, 
2441. 

Hendrick,  King,  restored  to  office, 
266' ;  speech,  2857 ;  invades  Mon- 
treal, 289s;  complains  of  land 
frauds,  300s;  at  Philadelphia,  3021 ; 
killed,  3028,  3039;  no  power  to  give 
or  sell  land,  329/. 

Hennepin,  Father  Louis,  cited,  1294; 
among  the  Iroquois,  2229;  dic- 
tionary, 223s ;  visits  Father  Bruyas, 

22f. 

Herkimer,  Gen.  Nicholas,  interviews 
Brant,  354";  advance  of,  356s. 

Heu,  Father  d',  sent  to  Onondagas 
and  Senecas,  255s ;  on  Onondagas 
in  Virginia,  258*;  with  Senecas, 
259*. 

Hewitt,  J.  N.  B.,  theory  of  origin  of 
name  Iroquois,   1665. 

Hiawatha,  suggested  formation  of 
league,  154s;  adopted  by  Mohawks, 
1548;  legends,  i555-56°;  white 
canoe,  1668. 

Hieroglyphics,  339*. 

Hoahoaqua.  mentioned,  383*. 

Hochelaga,  Cartier's  visit  to,  1497; 
Montreal  built  on  site  of,  1832. 

Hodenosaunee,  165*. 

Honayewus,  description  of,  382s. 

Honeoye  destroyed,  365*. 

Honontonchionni,  1656. 

Horseheads,  366T. 

Hotinnonchiendi,  1658. 

Hotinnonsionni,   1655. 

Hotreouate',  leads  war  party,  2141; 
favors  French,  228*;  conference 
with  De  la  Barre,  228";  speech, 
2289-296;  name  confused,  2347; 
visits  Montreal,  2347 ;  speeches, 
2.347-352;  acts  and  disappearance, 
235" 

Household  arts,  140*. 

Household  utensils,  1412. 

Houses,  139',  I42T. 

Howard,  Governor,  Indian  name, 
2311. 

Hubjey,  Lieut.  Col,  Adam,  cited,  366*. 


Hudson,  Henry,  mentioned,  1353;  met 
no  Iroquois,  1681. 

Hudson,  John,  present  at  council 
with  Munseys,  3I39-I4X. 

Hunter,  Governor,  stops  war  be- 
tween Iroquois  and  Flatheads, 
2609;  reports  Iroquois  quiet,  263s. 

Hunter,  A.  F.,  cited,  1293;  researches, 
1767. 

Hunter,  Robert,  Oneida  chief,  272s. 

Huron-Iroquois,  see  Iroquois. 

Hurons,  territory,  1353;  Indian  name, 
1378;  expulsion  of  Iroquois  from 
Canada,  1522;  historic  dates, 
I53T_542;  common  names,  153s;  re- 
movals from  exposed  to  secluded 
situations,  1619;  good  Iroquois, 
1685;  visited  by  Champlain,  1697; 
join  Champlain  in  attack  on 
Iroquois,  1698 ;  withdraw  frontier 
towns,  1768;  visit  of  missionaries 
to,  1769;  defeated  by  Senecas,  1788; 
torture  an  Iroquois,  1789;  friends 
of  sedentary  nations,  1790 ;  Iro- 
quois prisoners,  1798;  population, 
1801;  captured  by  Iroquois,  1811; 
desire  peace,  1812;  war  against 
Senecas,  1812;  defeat  Oneidas, 
181*;  control  French  trade,  1816; 
attacked  by  Iroquois,  1829;  attack 
Algonquins,  1838;  defeated  on  the 
Ottawa,  1842;  attack  Iroquois,  1845; 
victorious  in  canoe  fights,  1845 ; 
captured  by  Iroquois,  1859;  mis- 
fortunes, 1865 ;  peace  concluded 
with  Iroquois,  1888;  upper  Iroquois 
continue  war  against,  1892;  women 
carried  off,  1893;  defeated,  1895; 
sentinel  killed  on  watchtower, 
1898;  reprisals,  1897;  encounter 
with  Oneidas,  1917;  defeat 
Iroquois,  1919;  attack  Onondagas, 
1922;  send  deputies  to  Andastes  for 
aid,  192';  ambassadors  sent  to 
Onondagas,  1931;  embassy  attacked 
by  Mohawks,  1934;  attacked  by 
Senecas,  1938;  towns  abandoned, 
1937;  Andastes  could  not  help, 
1948;  town  of  St  Joseph  destroyed, 
T944;  attacked  at  St  Ignace,   1948; 


442 


NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


attacked  at  St  Louis,  1952;  aban- 
don five  towns,  195s ;  flight  of,  1959 ; 
betrayed  to  Mohawks,  196s; 
treachery,  1975;  near  Quebec,  1989; 
war  against  Mohawks,  198°;  de- 
feated, 1987;  defeat  Mohawks,  1999; 
treaty  with  Mohawks,  2004;  some 
go  to  Onondaga,  2o8T;  attack 
Iroquois  on  the  Ottawa,  ail1;  coun- 
cil with  Kiskakons,  227";  war  with 
Iroquois,  235°;  would  not  fight 
Iroquois,  245°;  seek  peace,  245s; 
propose  joining  Iroquois,  245"; 
settlement  near  Albany,  249°;  on 
French  treatment  of  Iroquois,  254' ; 
Iroquois  name,  256s ;  desire  war, 
2616;  message  to  Iroquois  on  the 
Ohio,  293s;  peace  with,  326s;  ask 
Iroquois  to  attend  general  council, 
37?. 

Illinois,  occupied  by  English,  327s. 

Illinois  Indians,  names  and  location, 
1387;  attacked  by  Senecas,  225''; 
vanquished,  226" ;  renewed  attacks, 
226%  2269-27a ;  Senecas'  warlike  atti- 
tude toward,  228"';  abandoned  to 
their  fate,  229";  attacked  by  Onon- 
dagas,  2300;  subdued,  234^;  French 
messengers  to,  263s;  attacked  by 
Iroquois,  26s5. 

Immorality,  390s. 

Indian  children,  held  as  pledges, 
2931. 

Indian  Problem,  1295,  387*. 

Tnglis,  Rev.  Charles,  memorial  of, 
3305. 

Tngoldsby,  Capt,  reproves  Indians, 
240";  command  of  English  forces, 
2408. 

Interpreters,  388*. 

Intoning,   1443,  204s. 

[ottecas,   i;f 

[rocoisia,  T723. 

[rondequoit,    French    pest    at,    -'65'; 

English  post  at,  268*. 
Irondequoil   hay.    De   Nonville  lands 

at,  233:. 
Irondequoit  land  deed,  279'. 
Iroquct,  contest  with  Iroquois,  1808. 


Iroquois,  territory,  1314,  1358;  legends, 
x3i6-352;  religious  belief,  1317, 
2203;  creative  myths,  1322;  story  of 
national  origin  and  migration, 
I327-352;  traces  in  Canada,  1334; 
how  known  to  Champlain  and  the 
Dutch,  1356;  position  of  kindred 
nations,  1357;  language,  1365;  man- 
ner of  advent  in  New  York,  147- ; 
residence  on  St  Lawrence,  1496, 
1521;  war,  origin,  150*;  in  Vermont, 
1515;  proposed  peace  with  Algon- 
quins,  1515;  date  of  beginning  of 
war,  1515;  use  of  guns,  1519;  expul- 
sion from  Canada,  1523,  1 532 ;  date 
of  coming  into  New  York,  153°; 
how  divided  by  Dutch  and  Cham- 
plain,  1597;  two  brotherhoods  of 
nations,  1645 ;  an  Algonquin  word, 
1657;  origin  of  word,  i657-667;  early 
defeats,  167s ;  not  encountered  by 
Hudson,  1684;  treaty  with  Dutch  at 
Tawasentha,  1729;  length  of  war 
with  Algonquins,  174"';  peace  with 
Algonquins,  174"';  new  war,  I75?; 
trade  with  Dutch,  1779;  buy  guns 
and  wampum,  1779;  foundation  of 
power,  1781;  tributary  nations, 
1782;  tortured,  1784;  retaliate  on 
French,  1783;  treatment  of  captives, 
1789;  names  of,  by  Jesuits,  1795; 
upper,  names  of,  1795;  prisoners, 
179s;  excellent  marksmen,  180" ; 
canoes  and  canoe  fights,  180s;  con- 
test with  Iroquet,  1809;  capture 
Hurons,  1811;  attacks  on  French, 
1820,  1848,  1859;  attacks  on  Hurons, 
iSj',  186''';  attacked  by  Hurons, 
[84";  now  stronger  than  Hurons, 
[85";  capture  Hurons,  1858;  change 
conduct  of  war,  186s;  fear  of,  1868, 
io;:;  distribution  of  parties,  1868 ; 
three  taken  prisoners  by  Hurons, 
[87*;  prisoners  sent  home,  [87*; 
peace  with  Hurons,  188s;  upper. 
continue  Huron  war,  189';  de- 
feated by  Hurons,  191°;  war  par- 
tics,  192*;  attack  on  St  Joseph, 
194';  attack  on  St  Ignace,  194'; 
attack   on    St   Louis,    I95al    attack 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


443 


Petuns,  1961;  attack  Neutrals,  1969; 
reverse  through  Huron  treachery, 
1975 ;  proposed  alliance  against, 
1985;  slaves,  2017;  war  with  Eries, 
2031;  jealousies,  2053;  war  with 
Ottawas,  2099-io1;  massacre  of  Al- 
gonquins,  2104;  visit  remote 
regions,  210°;  Christian,  removal  to 
Canada,  2203;  numbers  and  vil- 
lages, 2io\  2247,  2771,  324'",  3355, 
3425,  369s,  384s,  3851;  attacked  by 
Hurons  on  the  Ottawa,  2111;  rav- 
ages in  Canada  in  1661,  2ii'-i21; 
peace  proposals,  2128;  attack  Atti- 
kamegues,  2146;  defeated  by  Min- 
quas,  2157;  first  treaty  with  Eng- 
lish, 2166;  peace  with  French,  2172. 
2189,  254*;  towns  depopulated,  2206; 
council  with  Count  Frontenac, 
2219;  difficulty  with  Maryland, 
2237;  gain  warriors,  227s;  treaty  of 
peace  with  Maryland,  227s;  attack 
on  Ottawas,  227s;  for  galley  slaves, 
2304,  2327;  desire  alliance  with 
Ottawas,  2308;  importance,  231*, 
2547;  received  as  subjects  of 
English  king,  233*;  subdue  Illi- 
nois, 234s;  attack  Miamis,  234:; 
attack  Mission  of  the  Moun- 
tain, 234s ;  French  plan  for  de- 
stroying, 234";  war  of  1689,  235s; 
losses,  239°;  cast  French  war  belt 
on  the  ground,  239";  attacked  by 
French  at  Toniata,  240s;  sarcasm, 
2412 ;  war  with  southern  and  west- 
ern Indians,  245*;  defeated  on 
Lake  Champlain,  245";  war  with 
French,  245',  287s ;  peace  with  five 
Mackinaw  nations,  246s;  attacked 
by  French  Indians,  246";  defeated 
on  Lake  Erie,  248s;  English  and 
French  relations  to,  2507 ;  treaties 
with  English,  2508;  embassy  to 
Canada,  254s;  deputies  bring  back 
Frenrh  prisoners,  254*;  treatment 
by  French,  254";  promise 
neutrality,  25s9;  peace  with 
Ottawas,  257*;  jjn  English,  2595 ; 
canoes  for  English,  2601;  employed 
by   New   York,  2605;   council   with 


English,  2609;  war  with  Flatheads, 
2609;  reception  at  Albany,  2617; 
wish  war  to  continue,  262s ;  war 
with  Catawbas,  26s2,  278s,  2847;  at- 
tack Illinois,  265s;  at  war  with 
Flatheads,  265s;  join  French  In- 
dians, 268s;  embassy  to  Canada, 
2680;  trade  with  Far  Indians,  268°; 
treaty  with  Gov.  Keith,  2691;  -at 
Boston,  2697;  council  with  Gover- 
nor Burnet,  2705;  war  with  Foxes, 
274s;  relations  with  Pennsylvania, 
274";  alliance  with  Miamis,  2751; 
claim  lands  in  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land, 2767;  trouble  with  southern 
and  western  Indians,  277s;  kill 
Catawbas,  277s;  conference  with 
Lieutenant  Governor  Clarke,  277s, 
2787,  280*;  treaty  with  Caughna- 
wagas,  2802;  peace  with  Cherokees, 
2802;  peace  with  Catawbas,  2802, 
2955;  fight  with  Virginians,  2812; 
conquests,  2839-842;  power,  284s, 
323*;  embassy  to  Philadelphia, 
285*;  council  with  French,  286s; 
divided  on  war  with  French,  2867; 
party  division  among,  287*;  council 
of  1746,  2881;  council  at  Quebec, 
289s;  warriors  come  to  Philadel- 
phia, 289°;  conference  with  Gover- 
nor Clinton,  289°;  conference  with 
Johnson,  2902 ;  council  with  Gover- 
nor de  la  Galissoniere,  2909; 
on  branches  of  the  Mississippi, 
2937;  emigrants,  293s,  300*;  on  the 
Ohio,  2939;  blacksmiths  among, 
2942;  claims  to  Ohio  lands,  2971 ; 
killed  by  Cherokees,  297s;  loss  at 
Lake  George,  3041;  neutrality,  3103, 
3109;  hostile  to  Mississagas,  31 14; 
side  with  English,  3161;  take  war 
belt,  3168;  land  claims,  322' *-2 3* ' ; 
join  English  against  Pontiac,  324°; 
go  against  Delawares,  3257;  west- 
ern alliances,  340°;  friendship  im- 
portant, 34i7;  loyal  to  king,  3491 ; 
visit  French  in  Rhode  Island,  3697; 
number  employed  by  English,  3712; 
New  York,  desire  to  expel,  3719; 
two    confederacies,    379s;    declare 


444 


NEW    YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


war  against  English,  383s ;  reports 
on,  384",  385\  3873-9i2;  self-sus- 
taining, 3877;  crimes,  387*;  speak 
English  language,  3SS2.  See  also 
French  Iroquois. 
Iroquois  clans,  1342,  l448-47\ 
Iroquois  league,  date  of,  I479~48T; 
true  date,  1535;  successive  mem- 
bers, 1487;  founders,  1543;  site  of 
formative  council,  1617,  1667; 
names  of,  i649-651;  their  own  title, 
1653;  simple  at  first,  1671;  inde- 
pendent action  of  nations,  1672. 

Jackson,  T.  W.,  report  on  Iroquois, 
387s;  on  citizenship,  3914. 

Jacobs,  Captain,  mentioned,  1497. 

Jemison,  Mary,  prisoner,  3191;  ac- 
count of  St  Leger's  Oswego 
council,  355s. 

Jernaistes,  2430. 

Jesuit  chapel  at  Onondaga,  256°. 

Jesuit  Relations,  cited,  129",  1439, 
I5i7,  I537,  1659,  179°,  1828,  1832,  1858, 
193s,  1941,  2078,  2081,  2108,  2148. 

Jesuits,  visit  Neutrals,  1816;  flee  with 
Hurons,  1959;  leave  Iroquois,  259*. 

Jogues,  Isaac,  taken  by  Mohawks, 
1839;  seen  among  Mohawks,  1848; 
escapes,  1848;  account  of  Mohawk 
sacrifice,  1858;  letter  from,  1864; 
ambassador  to  Mohawks,  1902; 
meets  Onondagas,  1908;  comes 
back  as  a  missionary,  1908;  death, 
1909. 

Johnson,  Edward,  complaints,  319*. 

Johnson,  Col.  Guy,  conference  at 
Onondaga,  3198;  map  of  1771,  339°; 
map  of  1771,  explanation  of,  4081;  ' 
to  be  Sir  William's  successor, 
342";  council  with  Iroquois,  342s, 
3437,  345*;  Indian  names,  343';  con- 
ference with  Cayugas,  349';  goes  to 
Canada,  3499;  explanations,  358"; 
leaves  for  Oswego,  368";  says 
Oneidaa  arc  ready  to  fight  Ameri- 
cans, 368";  Indians  employed  by, 
369'. 


Johnson,  Sir  John,  flees,  352*;  leaves 
for  Oswego,  368';  raids,  368°;  in- 
vades Schoharie  valley,  369T;  de- 
feated, 369s. 

Johnson,  Peter,  chief  of  western 
Indians,  3522. 

Johnson,  Rutger,  to  furnish  arms  and 
ammunition,  2029. 

Johnson,  Sir  William,  Colden's  ac- 
count of,  286";  influence  among 
Iroquois,  286s;  at  Onondaga,  290*, 
297°,  298s,  305°,  3308,  3352;  says 
liquor  must  not  be  given  Indians, 
2942;  offers  resignation,  296*;  buys 
Onondaga  lake  and  shores,  296*; 
says  English  should  live  among 
Iroquois,  3012;  superintendent  of 
Iroquois,  3032;  speech  to  Indians, 
3033;  raised  sachems,  3036;  at  Lake 
George,  3038;  knighted,  3042;  Iro- 
quois councils,  2902,  304B-5\  337\ 
342s;  condoles  deaths  of  Hendrick 
and  others,  3054;  gives  pipe  to 
Indians,  3055;  condolence  of  Onon- 
daga sachem,  3o69-78;  at  Onondaga 
lake,  3077;  conference  with  Dela- 
wares  and  Shawnees,  308*;  council 
at  Canajoharie  castle,  3153;  leaves 
for  Niagara,  3169;  in  command  at 
Niagara,  317";  on  use  of  powder  by 
Indians,  3221 ;  on  Iroquois  land 
claims,  3229-23B ;  on  Iroquois  num- 
bers and  villages,  3242;  council  at 
Niagara,  326";  council  with  Dela- 
wares  and  Iroquois,  327s;  council 
with  Pontiac,  3281 ;  applies  for 
Royal  grant,  3290;  council  at  Ger- 
man Flats,  329s;  meets  Indians  at 
Tuscarora  creek,  331s ;  illness,  3^ ; 
at  Fort  Stanwix,  333^;  accident, 
335s;  council  with  Cayugas  and 
Senecas,  335s;  congress  at  German 
Flats,  336'';  account  of  Indians, 
338*;  last  council,  3432;  death  and 
burial,  343s. 
Johnson      Hall,      council      at,     3219; 

Cherokee  deputies  at,  3318. 
Johnstown,  council  at,  358". 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


445 


Joncaire,  mentioned,  254s;  with 
Senecas,  254s,  255°,  259s,  267s,  2703, 
274s,  275'" ;  brings  back  captives, 
255s ;  adopted  by  Senecas,  257",  2671 ; 
at  Michilimackinac,  257s;  character, 
258";  hints  of  dishonesty,  258s; 
killed  the  original  Montour,  258"; 
proposals  to  Onondagas  and 
Oneidas,  260s;  at  Onondaga,  2611, 
262s;  sent  to  Iroquois  country, 
265"';  asks  for  trading  house,  273s; 
tells  of  oil  springs,  279";  death 
mourned,  2791. 

Joncaire,  jr,  with  Senecas,  2809; 
Indian  name,  284°;  starts  evil  re- 
ports, 2(S57 ;  expelled  by  Senecas, 
2901;  goes  to  the  Ohio,  293s;  takes 
possession  of  Ohio  lands,  2941. 

Jonquiere,  Governor  de  la,  on 
English  traders,  293*;  council  with 
Onondagas,  296s;  death,  297". 

Kaghswughtioni,     Onondaga     chief, 

2907;  speech,  298*;  death,  3069. 
Kahkwahs,    1810;    same   as    Neutrals, 

[8l7;  destroyed  by  Senecas,  i8i9-82\ 
Kakouagoga,  1818. 
Kalm,  Peter,  1296,  294s. 
Kanadgegai,  exploits,  2408. 
Kanaghqueesa,  35 11. 
Kanaghsaws,  burned,  36s5. 
Kanisteo,  murders  at,  319°. 
Kannawaloholla  burned,  365^. 
Kanneastokaroneah,  or  Erians,  1823. 
Kannoseone,  165°. 
Kansas     lands,     claim     of     the     Six 

Nations  to,  386*. 
Karaghiagigo,  328". 
Kashong,  burned,  365s. 
Kawaskant,  mentioned,  383s. 
Kayaderosseras        patent,         dispute 

settled,  333'- 
Kayashuta,  Seneca  chief,  3446. 
Keinthe,  224s. 
Keith.   Governor,  Indian   name,  268s; 

conference,      268°;      treaties,      2689, 

Kendaia  burned,  365s. 
Kennebecs,     138s.     See    also    Abena- 
quiois. 


Ketchum,  William,  cited,  129°,  3541. 

Kichtages,  1388. 

Kinaquariones,  battle  at,  2197. 

King,  Thomas,  quoted,  3191;  death, 
3408. 

King  Philip's  war  raging,  222*. 

Kiotsaeton,  address,  1439;  brings  Mo- 
hawk offers  of  peace,  1883;  wishes 
French  to  eat  with  Mohawks,  1885; 
visit  to  Montreal,  190s. 

Kirkland,  Rev.  Samuel,  chronology, 
1482;  on  stone  in  Westmoreland, 
i6o'J;  visits  Johnson,  3185;  recep- 
tion at  Onondaga,  326s;  adopted  by 
Senecas,  327s ;  report  to  Indians, 
345s;  mentioned,  348s;  sent  to 
Genesee  country,  375* ;  report  on 
Iroquois,  384s. 

Kiskakons,  1387;  capture  a  Seneca, 
226s;  council  with  Hurons,  227s. 

Klock,  Colonel,  dilatory,  3618. 

Klock,  George,  mentioned,  342s. 

Kondiaronk,  235'. 

Konkhandeenhronon,  1797. 

Konossioni,  165°. 

Krieckebeck,  Commander,  defeated 
by  Mohawks,  1747. 

Kryn,  removes  to  Canada,  224s;  fights 
Senecas,  2331;  turns  back  a  Mo- 
hawk war  party,  234*;  killed,  236s. 

Kweukwe,  i62B. 

Labatie  asked  to  go  on  new  embassy, 
1984. 

Lackawaxen,  burned,  363*. 

Lacrosse,  1413, 

La  Famine,  2063. 

La  Fayette,  Marquis  de,  at  Johns- 
town council,  358s;  Indian  name, 
358s;  addresses  Indians,  372s. 

Lafitau,  J.  F.,  cited,  1298;  on  origin 
of  Iroquois,  133°. 

Laforgc,  at  Onondaga,  279*;  left 
Senecas,  279*;  son,  2807;  son,  black- 
smith among  Senecas,  2809. 

La  Fort,  mentioned,  383". 

La  Galette,  French  posts,  258s. 

La  Grande  Gueule,  see  Hotreouate'. 

Lahontan,  A.  L.  de  D.,  cited,  1298, 
228s,  2327. 


446 


NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 


Lake  Champlain,  Iroquois  defeated 
on,  245°. 

Lake  Erie,  primitive  name,  1824. 

Lake  George,  names  of,  1903;  English 
fort  planned  at,  2604;  battle  of, 
303s. 

Lake  Ontario,  1627. 

Lalemant,  Gabriel,  tortured,  1953. 

Lamberville,  Father  Jacques  de,  sent 
to  Onondagas,  2557. 

Lamberville,  Father  Jean  de,  meets 
La  Salle,  222';  on  death  of  Gara- 
kontie',  2227;  on  removal  of  Onon- 
daga to  new  site,  2266;  says  Iro- 
quois do  not  fear  French,  227s; 
remains  at  Onondaga,  228s;  on  La 
Grande  Gueule,  2287;  sent  back  by 
De  Nonville  with  presents,  2318; 
influence  on  Onondagas,  2319;  em- 
ployed to  draw  Iroquois  chiefs  to 
Fort  Frontenac,  232*;  saved  by 
Onondaga  chiefs,  232*;  account  of 
torture  of  Onondaga,  2477;  Iro- 
quois ask  for  return  of,  254*;  at 
Onondaga,  256°;  goes  to  Montreal, 

259* 

Lancaster,  councils  at,  282°,  2831,  3189; 
treaty,  2909. 

Lands,  appropriation  of,  by  colonists, 
2o6T;  beaver  land  trust  deed,  256"; 
value,  2817;  Delaware  deeds,  2818; 
treaty  with  Pennsylvania,  3014;  dis- 
putes settled,  3144,  333s;  claims  of 
Pennsylvania  people,  316";  claims, 
3229-235;  frauds,  323";  troubles, 
B rant's  speeches  on,  3518 ;  sales, 
37*\  37<)\  3^1  tenure,  3S83,  389*; 
allotments,  3891. 

Language,  of  [roquois,  [36*;  of  other 
Indians,  . 

La    Prairie,  abandoned,  224*-251. 

La  Salle,  among  Senecas,  2207;  at 
( )nondaga,  222  ;  launches  the 
Griffon,  22^ ;  abandons  Fori 
Frontenac,  21J'. 

Last   Night,  quoted,  318'. 

I  ,aus(  in,  ( \o\  criH  ir,  <\vc<\  gh  en  n  1 
lits  by,  2061 

Lauson,  M.  de,  killed,  21 

abandoned,  32] ' 


Le  Caron,  Father  Joseph,  visits 
Hurons  and  Petuns,  i76*-jf~ ;  visit 
to  Hurons,  1773. 

Le  Clercq,  cited,  1744. 

Lee,  Arthur,  mentioned,  3724. 

Leisler  troubles,  caused  remarks 
among  Iroquois,  236s. 

Le  Maitre,  killed,  214". 

Le  Moine,  David,  death,  2089. 

LeMoyne,  Father  Simon,  visits 
Onondaga,  1445,  200s ;  route  and 
reception,  2011;  return,  201s;  visits 
Mohawks,  2043;  peace  embassy  to 
Iroquois,  2127;  reception  at  Onon- 
daga,  212s;    death,   2173. 

Lenni-lenape,  1385. 

Lery,  Lieutenant  de,  destroyed  Fort 
Bull,  3056. 

"  Lessee   Company,"  373*. 

Le  Vaillant,  Father,  sent  to  Senecas, 

2557- 
Liquor    among    Indians,     2322,     260s, 

266s,  2731,  274s,  276s,  288s,  294%  30 11, 

3036,  33I1,  343*,  38i6. 
Little  Abraham,  quoted,  352'. 
Little  Castle,  burned,  3650. 
Little  Falls,  proposed  canal  at,  333°. 
Livingston,  Robert,  at  Onondaga.  252". 
Livingston,      Robert,      jr,      goes      to 

Senecas,  2663. 
Logan,  the  Cayuga,   165". 
Logan,  James,  mentioned,  342". 
Logan   family  murdered,  342s. 
Logstown,  councils  at,  2911,  2967. 
Long   Falls,  burned,  36s3. 
Long    Knives,    name    of    Americans, 

37f. 
Long    Sault   of  the    Ottawa,    French 

and   Indian   party  defeated   at,  240 '. 
Longueuil,       baron        de,        succeeds 

Maricourt,     2^7'':     at     Onondaga, 

j(*S ;   goes   to   Senecas, 
Loskiel,  G.  II.,  cited,  1297. 
Lothrop,   Samuel    K,  cited,    12<)7. 
Loudon,  earl  of,  commander  in  chief, 

3"l"- 
Louis   1  1.  quoted,  2.}o3. 
Loups,   [38*. 

I  .uycasse,   <  unit,   agent,   238*. 
Lydius,  Colonel,  mentioned,  3016. 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


447 


MacClod,  Norman,  commissary  of 
Indian  affairs,   3309-3i\ 

Mack,  J.  [Martin,  goes  to  Onondaga, 
297s. 

Mackinaw  nations,  peace  with 
Iroquois,  246s. 

Maechachtinni,    1638. 

Maguauogs,  I59T. 

Mahicans,  St  Francis  Indians  of 
Canada,  1388;  formerly  owned  Al- 
bany, 1384;  trade  with,  1727;  fort, 
174°;  urged  to  attack  Mohawks, 
1755;  sell  land  to  Dutch,  1759;  visit 
to  New  Amsterdam,  1849;  flee 
from  Albany,  2154;  attack  Mo- 
hawks, 2i63 ;  attack  Gandaouague', 
2195;  war  with  Mohawks,  2193; 
peace  with  Mohawks,  2217;  robbed 
by  Mohawks,  225s;  settlement  at 
Schaghticoke,  237' ;  French  party 
destroyed  by,  249* ;  Canadian, 
settle  among  Senecas,  284'. 

Mahikanders,    138*. 

Maison-neuve,  Sieur,  at  founding  of 
Montreal,  1833. 

Maps,  i269-273;  explanation  of,  393- 
428;  of  Dutch  1614  and  1616,  1716; 
published  by  O.  H.  Marshall,  233"; 
of  Romer,  253°;  of  Evans,  282s;  of 
Guy  Johnson,  339s. 

Maquas,    Dutch   name   for   Mohawks. 

135°,   I593,   I597,   I7i7. 
Mareuil,    Father    de,    sent    to    Onon- 
dagas  and  Senecas,  255s;  at  Albany, 

Maricourt,  M.  de,  at  Onondaga, 
2529-53x,  2553;  mentioned,  254'; 
death,  257*. 

Marshall,  O.  H.,  cited,  1297;  thought 
Kahkwahs  and  Neutrals  the  same, 
1817;  maps  published  by,  233". 

Marshe,  Witham.  cited,  129s;  account 
of  Lancaster  council,  2832. 

Maryland,  troubles  with  Iroquois, 
2237 ;  treaty  of  peace  with  Iroquois, 
-'-'7";  Indian  name,  2312,  2837;  lands 
claimed  by  Iroquois,  2767 ;  settles' 
claims,  2842;  and  Pennsylvania, 
division  line,  329". 


Maskoutins,   other  names,    1391 ;   pro- 
pose joining  Iroquois,  2459-461. 
Masks,  1417. 

Massachusetts,  represented  at  council 
at  Albany,  243°. 

Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Col- 
lections, see  Marshe. 

Massawomekes,  1941. 

Medals,  presented  to  Iroquois,  3083; 
given  up  by  Oneidas,  3102;  given 
to  chiefs  at  Philadelphia,  375*. 

Megapolensis,  Dominie,  cited,  129''; 
work,  346°. 

Menard,  Father,  mission  among 
Cayugas,  2083. 

Mercer,  Colonel,  killed,  308s. 

Messengers,  3889. 

Meulles,  M.  de,  quoted,  2287. 

Miami,  council  at  Auglaize,  375'. 

Miamis,  other  names,  138s;  Senecas 
go  against,  2321;  war  with  Iroquois, 
234",  245s;  French  messengers  sent 
to,  263s;  asked  to  attack  English, 
272s;  alliance  with  Iroquois,  2751 : 
friends  of  English,  2909;  message 
to  Iroquois  on  the  Ohio,  293°;  dele- 
gates to,  3745. 

Miantonimo,  charges  against,  1808, 

Michilimackinac,  attack  on,  22  f ; 
French  messengers  to,  263s. 

Mi'ldhtown  burned,  36s2. 

Milet,  Father  Pierre,  at  Onondaga, 
219-";  leaves  Oneida,  2282;  captured, 
235°;  song,  2357;  not  surrendered, 
2,]f;  released,  2437. 

Miln,  Rev.  John,  mentioned,  347s. 

Mingoes,  1652;  tribute  to  Onondagas, 
250'. 

Minisink,  destroyed,  363';  depreda- 
tions at,  3702. 

Minisinks,  council  with  Iroquois, 
3I44. 

Minquas,  territory,  1362,  1718;  must 
not  be  classed  with  Delawares, 
138°;  how  called  by  Algonquins, 
1651;  peace  with  Senecas,  2118; 
aided  by  English,  2145;  party  sent 
against,  2147;  defeat  Iroquois,  2157. 
See  also  Andastes ;  Conestogas. 


448 


NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Mission  of  the  Mountain,  267';  at- 
tacked, 234s. 

Mission  of  the  Two  Mountains,  fort 
at,  2/Q3. 

Missionaries,  visit  to  Hurons  and 
Neutrals,  i/69;  experiences  among 
savages,  1773;  to  Iroquois  neces- 
sary, 257*;  at  Onondaga  and 
Oneida,  3052. 

Missions,  buildings,  on  Onondaga 
lake,  207*;  established,  208s; 
French,  resumed  in  1667,  2i89-ic/; 
in  Canada,  2204,  224s,  267s;  aban- 
doned, 228";  English  proposed, 
238s;  among  Onondagas  and 
Senecas,  25s7 ;  at  Onondaga,  256s ; 
connection  with  trading  posts  for- 
bidden, 2703;  Moravian,  294s; 
protestant,  3466-478. 

Mississagas,       1389;     join     the      Six   ; 
Nations,    286*;    declare    war,    287-;   ' 
called  a  seventh  nation,  287s;  war   . 
with  Ottawas,  2991 ;   alliance,  303 5; 
hostile,  31  ir'.     Sec  also  Far  Indians. 

Mississippi,  Iroquois  on  branches  of, 

293T- 

Mohawk,  an  Algonquin  word,  1592. 

Mohawk  flats,  deed  of,  323s. 

Mohawk  prayer  book,  new  edition, 
3ia7,  323d,  3355;  of  1787,  3399-40a; 
Canadian  edition,  37 29 ;  edited  by 
Brant,  372°. 

Mohawk  valley,  evidences  of  early 
Iroquois  occupation,  1525;  John- 
son's raids.  3680. 

Mohawks,  origin,  1332,  1353;  lan- 
guage, 136";  clans.  144s;  advent  of, 
1477;  reference  to  Cartier's  visit, 
1 4</'-501 ;  varying  fortunes.  151s : 
exodus  from  Canada.  152*,  1532; 
earliest  forts,  152'':  first  towns  in 
New  York,  152s;  chiefs,  1548,  157'; 
other  names,  15V:  symbols,  i\ 
1'.  I.  338?;  cannibalism.  150s.  241'; 
council  name,  1599 ;  national  | 
boundary,  1O0  ;  Delaware  name, 
101  ;  elder  brother,  164"';  remote 
from  Hudson  ri\rr,  [68";  battle 
with  Champlain,  [68  69  ;  supposed 
early  treaty  with,  173  ;  first  treaty 


in  1645,  I741;  defeat  Dutch,  174s; 
peace  embassy  to,  1758;  towns, 
names  of,  1792;  dreaded  by  other 
Indians,  1803;  attacks  on  French, 
1827,  1967;  collect  tribute,  1848; 
sacrifice  to  Aireskoi,  1853;  stronger 
than  Hurons,  185s;  peace  concluded 
with  Hurons,  1883;  resuscitate 
Oneida,  1887;  hunt  with  Algon- 
quins,  1891 ;  visit  of  deputies  to 
Montreal,  1902 ;  attack  on  Huron 
embassy,  1934;  aid  upper  Iroquois, 
1963;  go  against  eastern  Indians, 
198 3;  Huron  war  against,  1986; 
chief  burned  at  Three  Rivers,  1989; 
enmity  toward  French,  1991 ;  de- 
feated by  Hurons,  1999;  join  in 
peace  proposals,  2001;  treaty  with 
Hurons,  2004;  jealous  of  Onon- 
dagas, 200s;  alliance  with  Dutch, 
2052;  antagonism  to  Onondagas, 
2053;  almost  at  war  with  Senecas, 
2054;  assail  French  colony,  2059; 
trouble  with  Senecas  settled  by  ar- 
bitration. 2084;  carry  off  Hurons, 
2087 ;  plot  ruin  of  French,  2091 ; 
war  with  Ottawas,  209!>-io1;  num- 
bers, 2108,  2772,  2911,  384',  385s; 
invite  Indians  living  near  New 
Amsterdam  to  live  with  them,  21 17; 
present  at  treaty  with  Esopus 
Indians.  21 17;  send  party  against 
Ottawas,  214°;  attack  Penobscot 
Indians.  214s;  and  eastern  Indians, 
215';  attacked  by  Mahicans,  216"'; 
ambassadors  killed  by  Abenaquiois, 
2t6"'  ;  invasion  by  Governor  de  Cour- 
celle,  217";  kill  French  hunters; 
217 ';  towns  destroyed.  2l8*J  war 
with  Mahicans,  210*;  condolence, 
..-jo  :  induced  to  renounce  worship 
of  Agreskoue'  2203 ;  peace  with 
Mahicans,  22IT;  treaty  with  Dutch, 
222 :;  defeat  King  Philip,  222' ;  pre- 
serve- Andastes,  223";  four  forti- 
fied towns  in  1677,  224'';  rob 
Mahicans,  225*;  complained  of  by 
New  Englanders,  225s;  quiet  in 
t68o,  225';  complained  of  by 
achusetts  commissioners,  226*; 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


449 


resent  English  inactivity,  238°; 
go  with  Schuyler,  239*;  captains 
killed,  239°;  carry  off  Caugh- 
nawagas,  239';  attack  Fort 
Yercheres,  2402;  losses,  2403,  252s; 
attacked  by  French,  241s;  ideas  of 
food,  241s;  bring  peace  belts  to 
Canada,  248s;  sent  back  from  Eng- 
land, 248s;  French  party  destroyed 
by,  249*;  flattered  by  English  and 
French,  2509;  restoration  of  land 
to,  252";  in  Canada,  2527,  3710; 
threaten  eastern  Indians,  253s;  did 
not  wish  war,  259s;  taken  to  Eng- 
land, 2608;  fort  and  chapel  built 
for,  263*;  Johnsons  influence  with, 
286*;  favor  war,  2867,  3805;  small- 
pox among,  287s;  invade  Montreal, 
289^ ;  some  killed  near  Johnson's 
house,  289s;  burn  fort  on 
Oswegatchie  river,  291°;  ask  to 
have  Johnson  reinstated,  296"; 
asked  to  settle  on  frontier,  296s; 
lost  influence  in  council,  3004;  at 
Philadelphia,  302T;  come  to  Fort 
Johnson,  31 12;  villages,  324s;  were 
Christians  and  educated,  338"; 
number  employed  by  English,  3712; 
land  sales,  379°. 

Mohicans,  1384. 

Monacatootha  buries  Tanacharisson, 
301 T. 

Montagnais,  1382. 

Montagnards,  1382;  swept  away,  1972. 

Montauks,  138";  settle  at  Oneida, 
3431- 

Montcalm,  at  Oswego,  308s;  at  Fort 
William  Henry,  3124. 

Montgomerie,     Governor,     succeeded   j 
Governor  Burnet,  273'. 

Montmagny,  Gov.,  at  founding  of 
Montreal,  183';  called  Onontio,  1838. 

Montour,  Captain,  destroys  Dela- 
ware towns,  326'. 

Montour,  Madame,  brought  to  Onon- 
daga, 262s;  French  try  to  have 
settle  in  Canada,  2662;  interpreter, 
272s;  daughter  Margaret,  275";  hus- 
band killed,  2757;  at  Lancaster 
council,  283s. 


Montour,  Andrew,  goes  to  Onon- 
daga, 285',  2977;  council  at  Logs- 
town,  296T. 

[Montour,  Catharine,  mentioned,  3597, 

373'- 
Montour,     Esther,     mentioned,     3S9T, 

3607,  3751- 
Montour,  Margaret,  275s. 
Montour,  Mary,  3753. 
Montour  family,  258s,  3751. 
[Montreal,     Algonquins     present     at 

founding  of,   1521;   site  selected  in 


1641,       1832;       reinforced, 


199 


Iroquois  attacks  on,  235s;  fighting 
at,  238s;  famine,  238s;  treaty  be- 
tween French  and  Iroquois,  254*; 
council  at,  255s,  263%  3099,  350*; 
conference  between  De  Vaudreuil 
and  Senecas,  304s;  deputies  to, 
3097;  surrender,  3175. 

[Montreal  expedition,  number  of 
Indians  on,  3i79-i8\ 

[Montreal  Island  invaded,  289s. 

Moor,  Rev.  Thoroughgood,  men- 
tioned, 346°. 

[Moravian  Indian  towns,  British  at 
Detroit  not  favorable  to,  3707. 

Moravian  Indians,  opposed  by  Brant, 
37 S1 ;  Brant  speaks  in  behalf  of,  374s- 

Moravians,  at  Onondaga,  2852,  294', 
297s,  2997-3002;  work  among  Iro- 
quois, 285";  in  Dutchess  county, 
294s. 

Morgan,  L.  H.,  cited,  1299;  on  Iro- 
quois clans,  1449;  on  meaning  of 
name  Cayuga,  1625;  on  Seneca 
name  of  Iroquois,  1654. 

Morgan's  map  of  Hodenosauneega, 
explanation  of,  4io1-i23. 

Morris,  Governor,  sends  belt  to  On- 
ondaga, 3022;  presents  Teedyus- 
cung  with  belt,  3129. 

Morris,  Thomas,  description  of  Red 
Jacket,  382s. 

[Morse,  Rev.  Jedidiah,  cited,  1299; 
report  on  Iroquois,  384*,  384*. 

Moseley,  Rev.  Eleazar,  mentioned, 
3483. 

Mount  Johnson,  council  fire  removed 
to,  3034. 


45° 


NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Mountain,  village  of,  attacked,  239s. 

Mountaineers,  1638. 

Miiller,  Max.,  on  Mohawk  language, 

1368. 
Munro,  Rev.  Henry,  mentioned,  347s. 
Munseys,  1380;  council  with,  3141. 
Musical  instruments,  1414. 
Myths  of  Iroquois,  1322. 

Naharuke,  fort  of,  263s. 

Nanfan,  Lieutenant  Governor,  men- 
tioned, 2505 ;  conference  with  the 
Five  Nations,  2561 ;  gifts  to  Indians, 
2619. 

Nanticokes,  other  names  and  terri- 
tory, 1394;  tributaries  to  Iroquois, 
2579,  324s;  adopted  by  Iroquois, 
2905;  go  to  Wyoming,  292*;  go  to 
Otsiningo,  299s;  king  dead,  3079. 

National  devices,  1648. 

Xecariages,  1387. 

Neutrality,  efforts  for,  382'. 

Neutrals,  territory,  1315,  1357;  with- 
draw frontier  towns,  1768;  towns, 
T/77,  182"',  1973;  visits  of  Brebeuf 
and  Chaumonot  to,  1815;  strength, 
1818;  poor  boatmen,  i8it;  same  as 
Kahkwahs,  1817;  southern  bound- 
ary, 1818;  and  Eries,  boundary  be- 
tween, 1825;  village  destroyed, 
192'';  destroyed,  io69-972. 

New  Jersey,  represented  at  council  at 
Albany,  243°. 

Xew  York,  represented  at  council  at 
Albany,  243". 

Newtown,  burned,  364°.  See  also 
Elmira. 

Nez  Pcrces,  1361. 

Niagara,  French  forts  at,  2337,  264°- 
651,  265°,  2715;  Ottawas  at,  258s; 
French  posts,  258°;  Seneca  village 
at,  265s;  English  forts  at,  2660, 
71*;  fur  trade,  276s;  siege  of,  3172; 
soldiers  destroyed  near,  322s;  carry- 
ing place  at  ceded  to  English,  326-; 
councils  at,  326s,  3/6"';  number  of 
Indians  at,  368s. 

Nicariages  at  Albany,  269". 

Nipissings,  139s. 

X'ipissiriniens,  139*. 


Niregouentaron,  225*. 
Nomadic  nations,  1398. 
Normanskill,  treaty  at,  172*. 
Northern  Indians,  power  of,  323*. 
Nouvee,    Father    Anne    de,    visit    to 

Hurons,  1774. 
Numbering  by  sticks,  1811. 

O'Callaghan,  E.  B.,  cited,  1301. 
Occum,     Rev.     Samson,     mentioned, 

3482. 
Ochateguins,  1358,  1685. 
Ochionagueras,  201s. 
Ochoueguen,  227s. 
Odislastagheks,  1391. 
Odongaowa,     on    the    English    side, 

242s. 
Oel,    Rev.    John    Jacob,    mentioned, 

347*- 

Offerings,  132'. 

Ogden  Land  Co.,  385s. 

Ogdensburg,  fort  on  site  of,  2918. 

Ogeratarihen,  225s. 

Ogilvie,  Rev.  John,  missionary 
among  Mohawks,  3053,  347*. 

Oheknugh,  slain,  377°. 

Ohio,  warnings  to  French  in,  299^. 

Ohio  Indians,  peace  treaty,  327^. 

Ohio  lands,  Indian  claims,  2g69-g72. 

Ohio  river,  French  on,  292° ;  Iro- 
quois on,  293°;  Indians  murdered 
on,  3281. 

Oil  Spring  reservation,  386s. 

Oil  springs,  279s. 

Ojibwas,  other  names,  1389.  See  also 
Far  Indians. 

Old  Belt,  see  Belt. 

Onagogarc,     to     succeed    the     Bunt, 

344*. 
Oneida,  destroyed.  248s;  Scarrooyady 

at.  3029;  fort,  3058. 
Oneida  lake,   fort  proposed  at,  258s; 

f<»r(s   011.   315s. 
Oneida  portage,  storehouses  at,  3037. 
( Ineida  stone  of  1796,  160°. 
Oneidas,     origin,     133",     134*,     i358; 

clans,  1449;  advent  of,  147°;  chiefs, 

I54'i  IS7*-&1  related  to  Mohawks 

[6o"j  home  before  migration,  1604; 

early    seat,     160*;    language,    1604; 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


451 


council  name,  1611;  Delaware 
name,  1614;  symbols,  1648,  338°; 
younger  brother,  1645;  strong  fort, 
1705;  defeated  by  Hurons,  1814;  in- 
censed against  Hurons,  1887;  en- 
counter with  Hurons,  1917;  seize  a 
Frenchman,  2008;  numbers,  2109, 
2246,  27f,  2911,  384s,  3845,  3848, 
385s;  send  party  against  Ottawas, 
2148;  deputies  sent  to  Canada  in 
June  1666,  2176;  town  near  Oneida 
creek,  224s;  captains  killed,  239s; 
battle  with,  2397;  send  Tareha  to 
Canada,  2421;  burned,  248s;  emi- 
grants to  Canada,  248";  send 
messenger  to  French,  2515;  losses, 
252s ;  would  not  return  prisoners, 
25  56;  French  agents  sent  to,  2608; 
order  Shawnees  to  return  east, 
274°;  at  Quebec,  3024;  send  deputies 
to  Montreal,  3097;  friendly  to 
French,  3101;  give  up  medals, 
scalps  and  belts,  3102;  half  favor 
French,  3111;  conference  with 
Cherokee  chiefs,  31 1°;  council  with, 
3186;  villages,  324*;  in  a  primitive 
state,  338*;  opposed  to  war,  354"; 
burn  Iroquois  towns,  3613;  go  over 
to  English,  3687;  go  to  white  set-  ( 
tlements,  369^  number  employed  j 
by  English,  3712;  secured  in  pos- 
session of  lands,  37*1,  378T;  reser- 
vation acknowledged,  378s;  special 
treaty  with,  378";  tract  in  Wis- 
consin, 3792;  go  to  Wisconsin, 
384*;  in  Wisconsin,  number,  384s; 
in  Oneida  and  Madison  counties, 
386a. 

Onioen,  1628. 

Onioenronons,  early  name  of  Cay- 
ugas,  1622. 

Oniouenhronons,  1798. 

Onjadarakte,  fort  at,  234*. 

Onoiochrhonons,   1798. 

Onondaga,  French  embassy  to,  2048; 

'  councils  at,  2084,  2367,  2371,  2427, 
25 17,  252s,  262s,  282",  289*,  3053,  3059, 
3io9,  3198,  330s,  3447,  3767;  removed 
to  new  site,  226*;  English  agents 
at,   238%  2512;   blacksmith   at,  238', 


2409;  English  fort  at,  242s;  western 
nations  refuse  to  join  expedition 
against,  246s;  invaded,  2472; 
burned,  247s;  French  agents  at, 
25 12;  English  fort  proposed,  2521, 
2524,  2542,  262',  263s,  2669,  3058; 
French  embassy  at,  2S31;  fort 
opposed  by  Albany  people,  253s; 
Jesuit  chapel  at,  256s;  French  fort 
proposed,  2613,  264s,  294s,  296s; 
English  embassy  at,  263s;  embassy 
to,  2852;  Moravians  at,  294s,  2997; 
French  party  at,  297";  salt  from, 
3536;  few  Indians  at,  376*;  declara- 
tion of  war  at,  383*. 
Onondaga     country,     Romer's     map, 

2539- 
Onondaga  lake,  league  formed  at, 
1667;  French  colony  at,  2044;  re- 
ception of  French  colony  at,  2068; 
mission  buildings  on,  2068,  2074; 
Johnson  buys,  2964;  council  at, 
3077. 
Onondaga    lands,    French    grant    of, 

2067;  sales,  3793. 
Onondaga  name  of  Iroquois,  1655. 
Onondaga  reservation,  386s;  ack- 
nowledged, 378s. 
Onondagas,  origin,  1332,  1354;  early 
home,  133°,  1615;  clans,  1342,  1449- 
451,  1457;  advent  of,  1473;  on  date 
of  Iroquois  league,  1494;  chiefs, 
1549,  1583,  3904;  meaning  of  name, 
1614;  council  name,  1617;  change  in 
location,  161s;  symbols,  1643,  1644; 
elder  brother,  164s;  fire  keepers, 
have  casting  vote,  1648;  attacked 
by  Hurons,  1922;  embassy  to 
Hurons,  J931 ;  ambassador's  action, 
T937 !  peace  embassy  to  Montreal, 
199s;  jealous  of  Mohawks,  2053; 
plot  against  French,  2091;  num- 
bers, 2109,  2247,  2772,  29 11,  324s,  384s, 
3849,  3853,  3854;  attacked  by 
Hurons  on  the  Ottawa,  21 18;  peace 
proposal,  2124;  peace  embassy  at- 
tacked, 2164;  one  large  unwalled 
town,  2247;  attack  the  Illinois, 
225°,  2306;  Susquehanna  lands, 
229s;       proposals       to       Governor 


452 


NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Howard  of  Virginia  and  Governor 
Dongan,  2311;  deputies  to  Canada, 
243'-;  burned  at  Montreal,  2471; 
tortured,  2477;  stop  emigration, 
2491 ;  peace  embassy  to  Canada, 
2493;  surprised  by  Algonquins, 
249s;  chiefs  killed,  249°;  send  mes- 
senger to  French,  2515;  losses, 
252s ;  French  partizans  among, 
2531;  conference  with,  254*,  3180; 
return  prisoners,  255";  reputation 
as  "men  of  business,"  2557;  mis- 
sionaries sent  to,  255?;  in  Virginia, 
258*;  did  not  wish  war,  259"; 
French  agents  sent  to,  2608 ;  con- 
sent to  French  fort  at  Niagara, 
271";  at  conference  in  Philadel- 
phia, 2750 ;  embassy  to  French, 
278s;  go  to  see  Governor  de  Beau- 
harnois,  2807;  smallpox  among, 
2891 ;  poverty,  2903 ;  chiefs  at  Phila- 
delphia, 292";  French  influence, 
294"';  claim  Ohio  lands,  296°;  at 
Oswegatchie,  3001;  at  Quebec,  3023; 
send  deputies  to  Montreal,  3097; 
conference  at  Montreal,  3099; 
neutral,  310°,  362';  come  to  Fort 
Johnson,  3112;  villages,  324s5; 
name  they  call  themselves,  338s; 
death  of  chiefs,  353°;  some  hostile, 
360'' ;  detained  at  Niagara,  362s ; 
towns  destroyed,  36s1;  number  em- 
ployed by  English,  3712. 

( )nontaerrhonons,  1790. 

Ononwaragon,  death  condoled,  273*. 
varagon,    speaks    at    conference, 

_>X<>;. 
Oquagas,      controlled      by      Iroquois, 
will     go    to    war,    287";    on 
English  side,  311";  liturgy  used  by, 
348s ;  mentioned,  353*,  361*. 
( >ratory,   1  m'. 

Oreaoue',    going    to    Montreal,    228s; 
captured,  232";  sides   with  French, 
2  i.V;    religious    fervor, 
250* ;  death,  2504. 

any,  battle  of,  356". 
Ornaments,  i|o";  of  European  make, 

■5->". 
Oronkouaia.  1818. 


Osborne,  Gov.  Danvers,  death,  298s. 

Ostanghaes,  controlled  by  Iroquois, 
269s. 

Ostiagaghroones,  1389. 

Oswegatchie,  French  troops  go  to, 
297°;  settlement  broken  up,  3035. 

Oswegatchie  Indians,  300*;  give  up 
English  medals  to  French,  302*; 
wish  to  return  to  Onondaga,  3158; 
numbers  and  villages,  3247. 

Oswegatchie  river,   fort,  2915. 

Oswego,  first  mention,  227s;  found- 
ing of,  270s;  fort  built  at,  272*, 
2801;  trade,  292°,  3007;  deserters 
from,  3059;  road  to,  3081;  surrender 
of,  3087;  massacre  at,  3089;  re- 
occupied,  3148;  councils  at,  3281, 
3502,  3547 ;  St  Leger's  council,  3551 ; 
attempt  to  capture,  3709. 

Oswego  Falls,  first  fort  of  Onon- 
dagas  at,  1339;  fort  proposed  at, 
258*,  308';  Englishmen  at,  2711; 
battle  at,  3086;  fort  built  at,  3169. 

Oswego  river,  first  European  de- 
scent, 2022;  fort  on,  3158. 

Otatshehteh,  1567, 

Oteroughyanento,  speaks,  351s. 

Otschiniata,  328s,  344s.  See  also 
Bunt. 

Otsiningo,  council  with  Delawares, 
306°;  Indians  from,  3490. 

Ottawa  river,  closed  by  Iroquois 
bands,  186' ;  Hurons  and  French 
attacked  by  Onondagas,  2TT1;  de- 
serted.  2I22. 

Ottawas,  oilier  names,  138°;  take  13 
Senecas,  2007;  war  with  Mohawks, 
joo"  10' :  Mohawks  and  Oneidas 
sent  party  against,  2148;  captured 
by  Senecas,  220";  reprisals,  2209; 
attempted  attack  on,  227°;  alliance 
with  desired,  230';  trade,  2308,  231*, 
_>3i7 ;  propose  joining  Iroquois, 
2 15";  break  peace,  246*;  still  hostile, 
254";  treachery,  257*;  peace  with 
Iroquois,  257* ;  at  Fort  Frontenac 
and  Niagara,  258";  covenant  with 
English,  260";  ready  to  fight 
against  French,  288s;  war  with 
Mississagas,  2991;   ambassadors  at 


INDEX  TO   HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW  YORK   TROOUOTS 


453 


Onondaga,  253s;  attitude  toward 
Iroquois  and  English,  253*;  Iro- 
quois join  English  against,  3249. 

Ottrawana,   mentioned,   288s. 

Ouaroronon,  1777. 

Oucanastota,  3322. 

Ouenrohronons,  go  to  Hurons,   1813. 

Oiiioenrhonons,  1798. 

Oumiamis,   1383. 

Oundiaga,  escaped,  377°. 

Ounontisaston,   1777. 

Outagamis,  1392;  unite  with  Iroquois 
and  English,  24s7. 

Owego  burned,  364s. 

Owenagungas,  1383. 

Oyadagaono,  139°. 

Palatine,  damage  at,  368*;  prisoners 
taken  at,  3709. 

Palatines,  come  to  New  York,  2672. 

Parish,  Jasper,  interpreter,  1435;  re- 
port on  Iroquois,  384s. 

Parker,  Ely  S.,  mentioned,  3903. 

Parkman,  Francis,  cited,  1302,  1818. 

Parsons,  Major,  describes  Teedyus- 
cung,  3093. 

Peace  dance,  1889. 

Peach-stone  game,   1418. 

Peach  Town,  destroyed,  366". 

I  Vim,  William,  Susquehanna  lands 
granted  to,  2302;  letter,  256';  buys 
land  of  Conestogas,  267". 

Pennsylvania,  council  at  Conestoga, 
2602;  Indian  lands,  267*,  276s;  com- 
plaints of  squatters,  292s;  land 
treaty,  3011;  relations  with  Iro- 
quois, 274°;  declares  war  on  Dela- 
wares,  3064;  conferences  with 
Iroquois,  306"' ;  Easton  council, 
3098;  and  Maryland,  division  line, 
320';  Indians  murdered  in,  331°; 
commissioners,  372*. 

Pennsylvania  Indians  tribute  to  On- 
ondagas,  259";  ruled  by  Iroquois, 
273°. 

Penobscot  Indians,  attacked  by  Mo- 
hawks, 214s. 

Perrot,  Nicholas,  story  of  national 
origin,  133'. 

Peter,  mentioned,  368s. 


Petree,  Bishop  de,  baptizes  Gara- 
kontie',  2211. 

Petty,  John,  mentioned,  3427. 

Petuns,  1359,  1378;  withdraw  frontier 
towns,  1768;  visit  of  missionaries 
to,  1771;  not  allowed  to  trade  with 
French,  1817;  attacked  by  Iroquois, 
1961;  destroyed,  1961 ;  grief  of, 
1965.     See  also  Tionontaties. 

Philadelphia,  councils,  244s,  256*, 
2577,  2724,  274s,  2757,  275',  276',  2813, 
318°;  Iroquois  embassy  to,  285*, 
352°;  Senecas  in,  3602,  373*;  Iro- 
quois chiefs  at,  375*. 

Physicians,  388s. 

Pickering,  Col.  Timothy,  council  at 
Elmira,  374°. 

Picquet,  Abbe  Frangois,  builds  strong 
fort,  2793;  at  Fort  Saratoga,  2862; 
mission,  2915;  eulogy,  292^;  men- 
tioned, 293u. 

Pierron,  Father  Jean,  with  Mo- 
hawks, 2191,  2202;  retired,  228\ 

Pieskaret,  Simon,  defeated,  1859; 
successful  expedition  in  1645,  1879; 
exploits  and  death,  1913. 

Pinetree  chiefs,  1551. 

Pioneers,  trouble  with,  3419. 

Pipestone      from     western      Indians, 

2373- 
Pipestone  calumet,  246s. 
Pittsburg,  conferences  at,  3173. 
Point  Rockaway,  3177. 
Pointe  aux  Iroquoise,  3177. 
Poisoning,  stories  of,  252s. 
Pollard,  Capt,  Seneca  chief,  383s. 
Poncet,  Father,  taken  prisoner,  1992; 

adopted,  1993;  released,  1994. 
Pontiac,    hostilities,    320°,    325°;    Iro- 
quois   join    English    against,    324s ; 

met     by     George     Croghan,     327s; 

council    with    Johnson,    3281 ;    goes 

home,  3291. 
Post,  mentioned,  29s2. 
Potomac,  Indian  name,  2692. 
Pottery,  1408. 
Pouchot,  M.,  cited,  1302;  on  origin  of 

Iroquois,     1337;     commands     Fort 

Levis,  3178. 


454 


NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 


Pouchot's    map   of   1758,   explanation 

of,  4061. 
Poulain,  Father  William,  prisoner  to 

Iroquois,     1772;     visit    to    Hurons, 

Powder  and  lead,  sold  only  to  the 
Iroquois,  2230;  use  by  Indians, 
3221. 

Praying  Indians,  Canadian,  243°, 
253s.     See  also  Caughnawagas. 

Presque  Isle,  blockhouse  taken,  3214; 
sold  to  Pennsylvania,  377s. 

Prideaux,  General,  leaves  for  Ni- 
agara, 3169;  killed,  317-. 

Prisoners,  see  Captives. 

Proctor,  Col.  Thomas,  cited,  1303; 
journal,  374". 

I 'ingress  of  Indians,  39i9-924. 

Protestant  missions,  346°-47s. 

Pyrlaeus,  John  Christopher,  chron- 
ology, 1483;  account  of  formation 
of  Troquois  league,  1543;  on  rela- 
tionship of  nations,  1646;  on  treaty 
between  Dutch  and  Iroquois,  1737; 
among  the  Mohawks,  294:'-951. 

Quackack,  3703. 

Quaksies,  T393. 

Quatoghies,  137s- 

Quebec,   councils  at,  2002,  289s,  3023 ; 

massacre      of      Algonquins,      2104; 

blockaded    by    700    Iroquois,    21 18; 

surrender,  3T73. 

Rasle,  Father,  killed,  2708. 

Rat.  the,  235'. 

Red  Head,  speech,  298';  Onondaga 
iker,  3033,  3034;  death,  3069. 

Red  Jacket,  eloquence  of,  1430; 
speaker,  107';  mentioned,  37<)s;  de- 
scription of,  382". 

Religion,  new,  prophet  of,  3807. 

Religious     belief     of     Iroquois,     13 17, 

Religious      instruction,      33°'.      335T> 

See  also  Missions. 
Religious  troubles,  3461. 
Reservations,  present,  38 
Residence  land  deed.  2717. 
Rhiierrhonons,  T930. 


Rice,  Rev.  Asaph,  mentioned,  348*. 

River  Indians,  other  names,  1384; 
taken  to  England,  2608;  friendly, 
35 19- 

Road  from  Mohawk  river  to  Oneida 
lake,  2744. 

Roanoke,  Indian  name,  269s. 

Rode  the  Mohawk,  at  council  at  Al- 
bany, 243°. 

Rorrier,    Colonel,   at   Onondaga,   253°. 

Romer's  map  of  7700,  explanation 
of,  4021. 

Ross,  Major,  damage  south  of  the 
Mohawk,  3704. 

Rotinonsionni,  1654. 

Royal  Blockhouse,  built,  3169. 

Royal  Grant,  329". 

Rundt,  Gottfried,  goes  to  Onon- 
daga, 2973. 

Ruttenber,   E.   M.,  cited,   1303,   1386. 

Sachems,  0f  league,  T543;  allotment 
of,  154";  names  and  meanings, 
1570;  raising.  1647,  292s,  3030;  how 
chosen,  1647,  339s ;  go  to  Shawnees, 
275°;  Canadian,  raised,  279°; 
dinner  for,  by  invitation  of  Mary- 
land commissioner,  283°;  authority, 
339";  chief  sachem  called  king, 
339';  at  Philadelphia,  375'. 

Saco  Indians,  T383. 

Sacrifices,  1319. 

Sacs,  [39". 

Sadekanaghtie,  presides  at  Onon- 
daga council,  237";  at  Albany 
council.  243"  J  death,  2551 ;  signs 
land  deed,  272 

Sagard,  Gabriel,  cited,  [30*;  visit  to 
I  [urons,   1 77  . 

Saghsidowa,    sent    to   Onondaga.   jS_>\ 

Sagochiendaguete',  2007,  21 3'. 

Sagogehyata,  3  y£. 

Sagohandechty  killed  by  Shawnees, 
276*. 

Sagoyewatha,  description  of, 

St  Clair.  Cen..  treaties,  373*;  de- 
feat, 374T- 

St    Francis    Indians.    [38  . 

St  Francis  Xavier  a  la  Prairie  de  la 
Magdeliene,  mission  of,  2204. 


INDEX  TO   HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW   YORK   IROQUOIS 


455 


St  Francois  Xavier  du  Sault,  2251. 

St  Ignace,  destroyed,   194°. 

St  Johns,  attack  on,  35 19. 

St  Joseph,   attacked  and  taken,    1944. 

St  Lawrence,  Iroquois  residence  on, 
1496,  1521;  ancient  inhabitants, 
1503;  closed  by  Iroquois  bands, 
1864;  hostilities  on,  196°;  upper, 
described  for  first  time,  201  \ 

St  Leger,  on  his  way  to  Oswego, 
3551;   march,  355';   retreat,  357'. 

St  Louis,  destroyed,  1952. 

St  Mary  of  Ganentaa,  mission  of, 
206°. 

St  Michel,  escaped,  242s. 

St  Regis,  3i/s- 

St  Regis  Indians,  land  sales,  379°; 
number,  384s,  385s,  385*;  one  of  the 
Seven  Nations  of  Canada,  3907. 

St  Regis  reservation,  317s,  3871. 

Sakena,  speaks  at  conference  at  Al- 
bany, 269s. 

Salt  springs,  2019. 

Sandy  creek,  early  home  of  Onon- 
dagas,  I33T- 

Sankhicani,  1613. 

Sanson's  map  of  1656,  explanation 
of,  3961. 

Saonchiogwa,  Cayuga  chief,  2124; 
baptized,  2218. 

Saponies,  branch  of  Catawbas,  139*; 
adopted  by  Iroquois,  2905. 

Saratoga,  see  Fort  Saratoga. 

Sassacus,  killed,  1805. 

Sassoonan,  Delaware  chief,  273s. 

Satanas,  1388,  1509. 

Sategariouaen,  commands  Fort  Levis, 
31  f. 

Sault  Chaudiere,  186s. 

Sauteurs,  1389;  defeat  Mohawks  and 
Oneidas,  2148. 

Seal j)  belt,  western,  3207. 

Scalp    bounty,    245s,    285s,    288°,    3065, 

313*. 
Scaniadarighroones,  adopted  by  Iro- 
quois, 290'. 
Scanonaenrat,   surrendered,   1958. 

rrooyady,    speaker    at    Lancaster, 

warnings  to  French  in  Ohio, 

299";  becomes  Half  King,  jOlVtf; 


report,  302s;  with  Braddock,  3045; 
favors  war,  3064;  at  Onondaga 
lake  council,  3079. 

Schaghticoke,  settlement  at,  2377. 

Schaghticoke  Indians,  1384;  go  with 
Schuyler,  239*;  at  Boston,  2697. 

Schebosch,  goes  to  Onondaga,  28s2. 

Schenectady,  bought  from  the  Mo- 
hawks, 2145;  capture  of,  236s. 

Schoharie  valley,  invaded,  359s,  369^ 

Schonendoh,   mentioned,  368s. 

Schoolcraft,  Henry  R.,  cited,  130*; 
on  origin  of  Oneidas,  1344;  finds 
Eels  among  Tuscaroras,  1464;  on 
date  of  Iroquois  league,  149*;  on 
date  of  destruction  of  Kahkwahs, 
1810;  report  on  Iroquois,  384T. 

Schools,  see  Education. 

Schuyler,     Abraham,     at     Onondaga, 

2598. 

Schuyler,  David  A.,  commissioner  at 
Oswego,  275s. 

Schuyler,  Capt.  John,  sent  to  Onon- 
daga, 251s. 

Schuyler,  Myndert,  goes  to  Senecas, 
266s. 

Schuyler,  Peter,  heads  expedition 
against  French,  239*;  goes  to  aid 
of  Mohawks,  2417;  on  cannabilism 
of  Mohawks,  2418 ;  brother,  245*; 
sent  to  Canada,  250";  ambassador 
to  French,  25 16;  opposes  Onondaga 
fort,  253s;  entertains  Sadeganak- 
tie,  2551;  at  Onondaga,  255s,  2612; 
sends  belts  to  Canadian  Iroquois, 
257°;  takes  Indians  to  England, 
2606;  destroys  French  fort,  2615. 

Schuyler,  Peter,  jr,  sent  to  Seneca 
country,  268*. 

Schuyler,    Philip,    sent    to    Senecas, 

2753- 
Schuyler,     Gen.     Philip,     chosen    fire 

keeper,  351';  mentioned,  352";  averse 

to     employing     Indian     aid,     3532; 

letter  to,  3603. 
Scioto,  councils  at,  337*,  3401,  3409. 
Seaver,  James  E.,  cited,  1304. 
Sedentary  nations,  1399,   179'. 
Seneca  name  of  Iroquois,  1654, 


456 


NEW   YORK    STATE    MUSEUM 


Senecas,  origin,  1332,  1347,  1354; 
serpent  story,  134s;  Iroquois  known 
to  Dutch  as  Maquas  and,  1358, 
1597;  clans,  1449;  manner  of  advent, 
1473;  last  to  join  alliance,  1487; 
date  of  joining  league,  14c/; 
chiefs,  154°,  158°,  3905;  removals 
from  exposed  to  secluded  situa- 
tions, 1619;  lake  of,  1627;  nations 
first  called,  1627;  numbers,  1631, 
2100,  2247,  277%  29  r,  324s,  384s, 
385s;  territory,  1631,  1635,  171'; 
common  name  Algonquin,  1638; 
Delaware  name,  1638;  council 
name,  1638;  symbols,  1643;  elder 
brother,  1645 ;  kill  ambassadors 
sent  to  Mohawks,  1758;  defeat 
Hurons,  178°;  war  with  Hurons, 
1813,  193°;  destroy  Kahkwahs, 
i8i9-822;  destroy  Neutral  village, 
1923;  war  with  Eries,  2032;  tradi- 
tion of  Erie  war,  2035;  almost  at 
war  with  Mohawks,  2054;  trouble 
with  Aloha wks  settled  by  arbitra- 
tion, 2084;  come  to  Fort  Orange, 
.Mi8;  capture  Ottawas,  2209; 
dictionary,  2215;  wish  to  exter- 
minate Susquehannas,  223s;  towns, 
2247,  324°;  continue  to  send  bands 
against  the  Illinois,  225";  one 
killed  by  Illinois  visitors,  226°;  go 
against  the  Miamis,  2321 ;  attacked 
by  French,  233s;  towns  abandoned, 
233s;  towns  taken  possession  of  by 
De  Nonville,  233";  making  snow- 
shoes,  239";  harassed  by  western 
Indians,  239s;  war  with  Miamis, 
245";  killed  by  western  Indians, 
j  I')';  killed  by  Dowaganhaes,  2522; 
5,  252" ;  conference  with,  254s ; 
Joncaire  goes  to,  25415;  return 
prisoners,  255s;  missionaries  sent 
V,  side  with  French,  259s; 
chiefs  at  Conestoga  council,  2602; 
covenanl  with  English,  260°;  return 
with  Delawares,  262°;  under 
French  influence,  2627;  council  at 
Montreal,  263^;  council  with 
rnor  Vaudreuil,  265°,  3048;  vil- 
lage    at     Niagara,     265s;     English 


embassy  to,  2663;  chief  sachem, 
268s ;  blacksmith  among,  270s,  2902 ; 
order  Shawnees  to  return  east, 
274°;  chief  killed  by  Shawnees, 
275°-762;  go  to  see  Governor  de 
Beauharnois,  2807 ;  war  with  Cataw- 
bas,  2811,  293°,  3123;  famine  among, 
281°;  epidemic  among,  2862;  send 
wampum  to  English,  2887;  friend- 
ship for  English,  2889;  invade 
Montreal,  289";  expel  Joncaire, 
2901;  chiefs  at  Philadelphia,  292% 
373s;  from  Ganuskago,  3054; 
women  at  councils,  3062;  at  Ni- 
agara, 309°;  neutral,  3109,  377*; 
come  to  Fort  Johnson,  3112;  con- 
ference with  Cherokee  chiefs,  3118; 
fight  against  Catawbas  and 
English,  3125;  hostile,  3215;  kill 
English  soldiers,  322s;  peace  with, 
3261,  326°;  council  with  Johnson, 
3353;  most  numerous  of  Iroquois, 
3391;  two  released,  342s;  union  belt 
placed  with,  34s3 ;  seven  condemned 
to  death,  345s;  in  Philadelphia, 
3602;  towns  burned,  36s3;  join  Sir 
John  Johnson  in  Schoharie  valley, 
369s;  number  employed  by  English, 
3712;  towns  visited  by  Colonel 
Proctor,  3744;  boundaries  settled, 
378s;  treaties,  3791 ',  at  battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  382s;  aid  in  defense  of 
Buffalo,  3831;  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, number,  384s;  religious 
division,  3850;  land  sales,  385^ 

Sepulture,   141'. 

Sergeant,  Rev.  John,  mentioned,  347'. 

Severance.  Frank  EL,  cited,  1308. 

Seyffert,  Anton,  mentioned,  29s1. 

S'ganatees,  297*. 

Shadekaronyes,  156*. 

Shamokin  (Pa.),  fort  at,  3194; 
council  at,  335*. 

Shamokin  lands,  301*. 

Shaounons,  138". 

Shawnee^,  other  names,  138";  driven 
off,  150':  :it  war.  2618,  343";  con- 
trolled by  Iroquois,  269s;  rebuked 
by  Iroquois,  2697,  3408;  called 
women,    272* ;    ordered    to    return 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE   NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


457 


east,  274s;  favor  the  French,  275s; 
kill  a  Seneca  chief,  2759-762;  dis- 
satisfied with  land  sales,  2767; 
lands,  277s;  proposed  removal, 
2811;  go  to  Wyoming,  292*;  at 
Philadelphia,  292°;  bring  wampum 
to  Iroquois,  293";  hostile  to  Iro- 
quois, 3048;  at  Onondaga  lake 
council,  3079;  treaty  with  Iroquois, 
3083 ;  conference  with  Johnson, 
3081;  in  Ohio,  trouble  with  French, 
312s;  owned  no  land,  3411;  at  On- 
ondaga, 3445;  proposals  refused, 
344°;  message  to,  344s;  at  peace, 
345';  number,  384s. 

Shea,  John  Gilmary,  cited,  1305,  1835; 
possible  error  in  use  of  Garakon- 
tie"s  name,  2134;  on  murderer  of 
Le  Maitre,  2143. 

Sheoquaga,  destroyed,  365s. 

Shikellimy,  viceroy  over  Susque- 
hanna Indians,  272s;  resides  among 
Shawnees,  273T;  sent  to  Senecas, 
274";  agent  between  the  Six 
Nations  and  Pennsylvania,  275^; 
comes  to  Philadelphia,  275s; 
agent  for  Iroquois  and  whites, 
276';  at  Onondaga.  277s,  282s,  285'; 
son  killed  by  Catawbas,  284s; 
sick,  289';  death,  292';  sons  with 
the  Delawares,  3095;  three  sons 
survived  him,  342"'. 

Shikellimy,  John,  mentioned, 3015, 342s. 

Shirley,  General,  plans,  3042. 

Simcoe,  Governor,  kept  hostile  feel- 
ings alive,  3771. 

Sioux  chief,  mentioned,  245". 

Skandawati,  suicide,  193*. 

Skaniadarighroonas,  1395. 

Skannayutenate,  366s. 

Skenandoah,   mentioned,   368s. 

Skoiyase,  destroyed,  365s,  366*. 

Slaves,  held  by  Iroquois,  2017. 

Sleds,  1403. 

Sloughter,  Governor,  conference  with 
Five  Nations,  2387;  on  importance 
of  holding  Albany,  239*. 

Smallpox,  in  Philadelphia,  276s; 
among  Mohawks,  287";  among 
Onondagas,  289*. 


Smith,  Rev.  Mr,  mentioned,  346°. 

Smith,  Rev.  C.  J.,  mentioned,  348*. 

Smith,  William,  cited,  1303;  de- 
scribed council  at  Onondaga,  2367; 
on  Albany  council,  285s. 

Snow  snake,  141*. 

Snowshoes,  140s. 

Snyder,  Capt.  Jeremiah,  cited,  354s. 

Sokokis,  1383. 

Sokoquois,  138". 

Soldiers,  Union,  3903. 

Songs,   1425. 

Sonnontouan,   1635. 

Sonnontouehronons,    1627,   1635. 

Sonontoerrhonons,  179°. 

Sorel,  Capt.  de,  attacks  Mohawks, 
21 f. 

Sorel,  forts  on,  1838. 

Southern  Indians,  war  with,  278s; 
covenant  with,  280°. 

Sovereignties,  Indian  nations  recog- 
nized as,  388s. 

Soyeghtowa,  342s. 

Spangenberg,  goes  to  Onondaga, 
2852;  mentioned,  295\ 

Spencer,  Rev.  Elihu,  mentioned,  3477. 

Springfield,  destroyed,  359s. 

Squawkie  Indians,  traditional  over- 
throw,  182*. 

Squekaneronons,   1393. 

Squier,  E.  G.,  on  derivation  of  name 
Seneca,  1637. 

Steel  Trap,  383s. 

Stenton,  council  at,  27ft. 

Stephens,  Arent,  sent  to  Oswego, 
292s;  sent  to  Iroquois,  298s; 
danced  the  war  dance,  3035. 

Stockbridge  Indians,  friendly,  3519; 
special  treaty  with,  378s;  number, 
3845- 

Stone.  William  L.,  cited,  1305;  on 
Brant,  3527;  on  Red  Jacket,  382s; 
Farmer's  Brother,  382s;  on 
Steel  Trap,  &f. 

Stone  Arabia,  massacre  at,  3099. 

Story-teller,  1419. 

Stuart,  Rev.  John,  in  charge  of  Mo- 
hawk mission,  336°,  347-';  transla- 
tions and  revisions,  3397;  Joseph 
Brant  his  interpreter,  339". 


458 


NEW   YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 


Stuyvesant,  Governor,  ransomed 
Kennebec  Indians,   2I49-I5X. 

Sullivan,  General,  expedition,  363*. 

Susquehanna,   deserted,  358". 

Susquehanna  lands,  Gov.  Dongan's 
action,  229s;  above  Washinta, 
sovereignty  over,  231*;  claims  to, 
269/";  Canassatego  on,  277°. 

Susquehanna  river,  mixed  population 
in  towns  on,  325*;  Iroquois  towns 
on,  burned,  3613. 

Susquehannas,  1315,  1651,  1718,  268s; 
controlled  by  Iroquois,  269s;  de- 
serters  among,  3061.  See  also  An- 
dastes. 

Swahyawanah,  3661. 

Swatana,  viceroy  over  Susquehanna 
Indians,  272". 

Sweege,  256*. 

Symbols,  1643. 

Syracuse,  Frontenac's  army  camp  at, 
2475. 

Tadodaho,  1565. 

Taenhatentaron,  destroyed,  194'. 

Tagawarra,  3331. 

Taghneghtoris,  3013,  342°. 

Tahaiodoris,  death,  239s. 

Tahontaenrat,  1973. 

Tanacharisson,  the  Half  King, 
warnings  to  French  in  Ohio,  2992; 
death,  3010. 

Tarachawagon,  281*. 

Tareha,  sent  to  Canada,  2421. 

Tatotarho,  1574. 

Tawachguano,  1394. 

Tawasentha,  treaty  at,  172°. 

Tayojaronsere,  John,  death,  364s. 

Tchojachiage,  253". 

Teanaustaye',  attacked  and  taken, 
194*. 

Tecarihoguen,  209". 

Teedyuscung,  appearance,  3093;  con- 
cludes peace  treaty,  3T2(,-T3";  re- 
proved,  3]  j\ 

Tegahkwita,  Catharine,  Iroquois 
saint.  22  | 

irens,  143s. 
retwan,  killed,  232°. 


Temperance  societies,  3817. 

Teyawarunte,  3220,  3281,  343s. 

Teyohagweanda,  363s. 

Theianoguen,  invades  Montreal,  289''. 

Thiohero,  burned,  366s. 

Three  Rivers,  council  at,  1902;  en- 
counter between  Hurons  and  Iro- 
quois, 1919;  Mohawks  attack 
French  near,   1967. 

Tiachsochratota,  297*. 

Ticonderoga,  fort  at,  234*;  occupied 
by  French,  3049. 

Tinawatawa,  220s. 

Tinondague,  224s. 

Tiochrungwe,  297s. 

Tionontaties,  territory,  1359;  visit  of 
missionaries  to,  1771;  attacked  by 
Iroquois,  1961;  take  13  Senecas, 
2007;  ready  to  fight  French,  288s. 
Sec  also  Petuns. 

Tiotohatton,  224s. 

Tioughnioga  river,  ascent  of,  299s. 

T'kwentaheuhane,   1399. 

Tobacco  nation,  1359.  See  also 
Petuns. 

Tochanuntie,  mentioned,  2829;  de- 
scribed, 283s;  speech,  283°. 

Tockwoghs,  139*. 

Toderichroone,  26s2. 

Todirighroones,  adopted  by  Iro- 
quois, 2905. 

Tokhrahenehiaron,  sent  to  Mo- 
hawks, 1882. 

Tomahawks,  use  of,  246*. 

Tonawanda  reservation,  3867. 

Tonawandas,  number,  385*;  land 
sale  resisted,  3862. 

Tondiharon,  killed,  239s. 

Toniata,  Iroquois  attacked  by  French 
at,  2403 ;  number  of  warriors  at, 
2771;  a  noted  resort,  3177. 

Toratati,  burned  alive,  1988. 

Torskin,  goes  to  Montreal,  243s. 

Tortures,  187°,  i95T. 

I  ■  itemic  bond,  1467. 

Totems,  on  houses,  1461, 

Toteros,  1394. 

Totiakton,  233s. 
l"tieronno,  331*. 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


459 


Towns,  brief  duration,  1529;  reported 
burning,  357s. 

Tracy,  M.  de,  builds  forts,  2168;  re- 
ceives Dutch  Bastard,  217s;  makes 
another  expedition  to  Fort  St 
Anne,  2184. 

Trade,  of  Iroquois  with  Dutch,  1779; 
English,  293s;  limitations,  3206; 
regulations,  32C/-301.  See  also 
French  trade. 

Traversy,  Captain  de,  killed,  2177. 

Treat}-,  between  Iroquois  and  Dutch 
at  Tawasentha,  1729;  with  Dutch, 
2108;  between  Esopus  Indians  and 
Iroquois,  21 18;  between  Iroquois 
and  English,  2166,  2409,  250s;  be- 
tween Dutch  and  Mohawks, 
2224;  between  Iroquois  and 
Maryland,  227s ;  between  French 
and  Iroquois,  254*;  between  Iro- 
quois and  Governor  Keith,  2691 ; 
between  Caughnawagas  and  Iro- 
quois, 2802;  between  Iroquois  and 
Catawbas,  284s,  295s;  at  Lancaster, 
290°;  in  regard  to  Pennsylvania 
lands,  3014;  with  Delawares  and 
Shawnees,  3083;  of  Fort  Stanwix, 
I7§4,  37i9;  settlement  of  boundary 
line,  3783;  of  Fort  Harmar,  378°; 
of  1795,  378s,  3799- 

Tributary  nations,  231*. 

Trico,  Catelyn,  evidence  in  connec- 
tion with  French  and  English 
claims,  1733. 

Tryon,  Governor,  on  number  of  Iro- 
quois, 342*. 

Tsonnontouans,  1635,  164*. 

Tuscarora  creek,  Johnson  meets 
Indians  at,  3315. 

Tuscarora   reservation,   3871. 

Tuscaroras,  135",  136*;  origin,  133-'; 
clans,  1452;  date  of  joining  con- 
federacy, 148s;  chiefs,  T587,  3907; 
adoption,  163",  264*;  name  and 
meaning,  1639;  position  in  league, 
l6tf-6tf;  council  name,  1642; 
younger  brother,  1645;  present  at 
Conestoga  council,  2603;  at  war 
with     Conestogas,     262s;     settled 


southward,  26^',  war  with  colon- 
ists, 2637;  controlled  by  Iroquois, 
269s;  at  Albany  council,  269*; 
number,  277%  384s,  385s,  385*; 
towns,  297*,  324*;  at  Quebec,  3024; 
more  come  north,  329s;  molested 
in  Pennsylvania,  329*;  burn  Iro- 
quois towns,  3613;  towns  burned, 
364*;  go  over  to  enemy,  3687; 
number  employed  by  English,  3712; 
secured  in  possession  of  lands, 
3721,  37&~ \  special  treaty  with, 
3789. 

Tuteloes,  1394. 

Twightwees,  other  names,  138s;  war 
with  Iroquois,  234'"*. 

Unadilla,     full     of     refugees,     358s; 

burned,  3613. 
Unechtgo,  1393. 
Ungquaterughiathe,  272°. 
Union  soldiers,  3903. 
Upper  Cayuga  destroyed,  3661 
Utawawas,   138°. 
Utrecht,  peace  of,  263'. 

Van  Curler,  Arent,  comes  in  contact 
with  Onondagas,  1617;  mentioned, 
1732;  sees  Jogues  among  Mo- 
hawks, 1848;  on  Oneidas,  1613; 
trip  to  Oneida,  1791 ;  drowned, 
2193. 

Van  der  Donck,  Adriaen,  cited,  1308, 
i899-9o\ 

Van  Epps,  John  Baptist,  interpre- 
ter, 251°;  sent  to  Onondaga,  2518. 

Van  Rensselaer,  General,  defeats 
Sir  John  Johnson,  369°. 

Van  Rensselaer,  Kiliaen,  Indian 
lands  bought  by,   1759. 

Vaudreuil,  Governor  de,  council 
with  Senecas,  259°,  265',  3048; 
sends  Joncaire  to  Iroquois  country, 
265' ;   report  on  Indian  allies,  3125. 

Venango  (Pa.),  fort  captured  at, 
32 1 ;. 

Vercheres,  Mile  de,  defends  fort, 
240s. 

Vermont,  Iroquois  in,  151". 


460 


NEW  YORK   STATE    MUSEUM 


Vessels  called  after  Iroquois  nations, 
317s. 

Viel,  Father  Nicholas,  visit  to 
Hurons,  1773. 

Viele,  Aernout  Cornelisse,  commis- 
sion given  to,  2382;  sent  to  Onon- 
daga, 2518;  offends  Onondagas, 
229/. 

Vimont,  Father,  quoted,  1867. 

Virginia,  Indian  name,  2312,  2092; 
boundary  in,  26S2 ;  lands,  276T,  2841 ; 
settles  claims,  2842;  fight  with 
Iroquois,  2812. 

Virginia  Indians,  Senecas  against, 
2687. 

Visgher,  Lieutenant,  sent  to  Oswego, 
2887. 

Vrooman,  Captain,  captured,  369°. 

Wampum,  use,  1417;  meaning,  1424; 
inventor,  1555;  making,  1779;  re- 
stored  to   old   Onondaga   in   1847, 

3799- 

Wappingers,  1385;  join  Mohawks 
against  Mahicans,  2195. 

War  chiefs,  1558. 

War  dance  of  Iroquois,  287°. 

Warwarsing,  burned,  3708. 

Washington,  George,  mentioned, 
3126. 

Wayne's  victory,  377". 

Weapons,  1402. 

Weas,  1388. 

Weaving,   1404. 

Webb,  General,  at  Oneida  portage, 
308°. 

Webster,  Ephraim,  cited,  1492; 
Hiawatha  legend,  155°. 

Weiser,  Conrad,  official  interpreter, 
2747;  adopted  by  Mohawks,  274''; 
agent  between  the  Six  Nations 
and  Pennsylvania,  275s;  agent  for 
Iroquois  and  whites,  276°;  at  On- 
ondaga, 277",  282",  2852,  294*; 
Indian  account  of,  281*;  Iroquois 
delegation  at  home  of,  282*;  on 
character  of  Catawbas,  284*-852; 
aids  Shikellimy,  289*;  sent  to  Logs- 
town,  2909,  296*;  councils  with  Iro- 


quois, 2911;  on  French  influence  in 
Onondaga,  294";  comes  to  the  Mo- 
hawks, 297s;  at  Albany  council, 
3014;  death,  318°. 

Weiser,  Frederick,  on  death  of 
chief's  son,  335s. 

Weiser,  Samuel,  succeeds  Conrad 
Weiser,  3186. 

Wessel,  Dirck,  at  Onondaga,  2427; 
ambassador  to  French,  25 16. 

Western  Indians,  hostile,  24s5; 
trouble  with,  257",  277s;  at  Oswego, 
292';  restive,  3003;  councils  with, 
3268,  373\  3759;  reproved,  3371; 
summoned  to  Onondaga,  3418; 
loyal,  3521. 

Wheelock,  Rev.  Eleazer,  on  Indian 
education,  3195,  348°;  Indian  school, 

324a. 

White  river,  Iroquois  settlement  at, 
282°. 

Wilkins,  General,  quoted,  37?. 

Willett,  Col.  Marinus,  in  command, 
3702;  attacked  and  defeated  an 
Indian  force,  3708;  defeats  Butler, 
3704;  attempt  on  Oswego,  3709. 

Williams,  Colonel,  killed,  3039. 

Williams,  Roger,  cited,  130";  on 
reputed   cannibalism   of   Mohawks, 

I598. 

Williamsburg,  council  at,  26s4. 

Wills,  389'. 

Wilson,  James  Grant,  cited,  130'. 

Winsor,  Justin,  cited,   I30T. 

Winthrop,  Governor,  quoted,  2078. 

Wolcott,  Oliver,  mentioned,  372*. 

Wolves,  1384. 

Women,  influence  of,  1674;  children 
follow  mother's  clan,  1674;  name 
chiefs,  1674;  speakers  for,  1674; 
owners  of  soil,  167°;  double  atone- 
ment for  their  lives,  1678;  peace- 
makers, 2444;  at  councils,  3062. 

Wood  creek,  English  forts,  260". 

Woodbridge,     Timothy,     mentioned, 

3478. 
Wool  ley,  Joseph,  mentioned,  348". 
Worship,  1417. 
Wraxall,  secretary  to  Johnson,  304*. 


INDEX  TO  HISTORY  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  IROQUOIS 


461 


WTassone,  1613. 

Wyandots,   1358,   1378. 

Wyoming,  fraudulent  purchase,  3015; 
land  deed  to  be  destroyed,  3027; 
Connecticut  people  at,  3203;  mas- 
sacre of,  359*. 

Yoghroonwago,  destroyed,  367s. 
York,     duke     of,     sovereignty     over 
Susquehanna  lands,  2312. 


Zeisberger,  David,  cited,  1307,  374°; 
mentioned,  1443;  goes  to  Onon- 
daga, 285s,  294s,  2Q52,  297s,  2097, 
2999,  3295;  on  Brant  and  the  Dela- 
wares,  373s;  on  Montour  family, 
3751;  account  of  Delawares  being 
made  warriors,  3801;  on  Mohawks 
wishing  war  again,  3808. 

Zinzendorf,  Count,  quoted,  1421; 
meeting  with  Iroquois  chiefs,  282*. 


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Enl5  (57)    Elm  Leaf   Beetle   in   New  York    State.    46p.   il.  8pl.     Aug. 

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This  is  a  revision  of  En4  containing  the  more  essential  facts  observed  since  that  was  prepared. 


UNIVERSITY   OF  THE   STATE   OF   NEW  YORK 
Enl6  (59)  Grapevine  Root  Worm.    4op.  6pl.    Dec.  1002.    15c. 

See  En  19. 

Enl7  (64)    18th   Report   of  the   State   Entomologist   1902.       nop.   6pl. 

May  1903.    20c. 

Enl8  (68)   Needham,  J.  G.  &  others.    Aquatic  Insects  in  New  York.    322p. 

52pl.     Aug.  1903.    80c,  cloth. 
Enl9  (72)   Felt,  E.  P.   Grapevine  Root  Worm.     58?.  I3pl.     Nov.  1903.     20c. 

This  is  a  revision  of  Eni6  containing  the  more  essential  facts  observed  since  that  was  prepared. 

En20  (74)   Felt,  E.   P.  &  Joutel,  L.   H.     Monograph  of  the  Genus   Saperda. 
88p.  i4pl.    June  1904.   25c. 

En21  (76)    Felt,  E.  P.  19th  Report  of  the  State  Entomologist  1903.    isop.  4pl. 
1904.     15c. 

En22  (79)  Mosquitos  or  Culicidae  of  New  York.     164P.  il.  57pl.    Oct. 

1904.     40c. 

Needham,   J.  G.  &  others.     May  Flies  and  Midges  of  New  York.     In  press. 

Botany.    Bol  (2)   Peck,  C :  H.     Contributions  to  the  Botany  of  the  State  of 

New  York.    66p.  2pl.     May  1887.     Out  of  print. 

Bo2  (8)  Boleti  of  the  United  States.    96p.     Sep.  1889.     [50c] 

Bo3  (25)   Report    of    the    State    Botanist    1898.     76p.    5pl.     Oct.    1899. 

Out  of  print. 

Bo4  (28)  Plants  of  North  Elba.    2o6p.  map.    June  1899.    20c. 

Bo5  (54)  Report  of  the  State  Botanist  1901.     58p.  7pl.     Nov.  1902.    40c. 

B06  (67)  Report  of  the  State  Botanist  1902.     196P.  5pl.     May  1903.    50c. 

Bo7  (75)  Report  of  the  State  Botanist  1903.     jop.  4pl.     1904.     40c. 

Archeology.    Arl  (16)    Beauchamp,  W:   M.     Aboriginal   Chipped  Stone   Im- 
plements of  New  York.    86p.  23pl.    Oct.  1897.    25c. 
Ar2  (18)   Polished  Stone  Articles  used  by  the  New  York  Aborigines. 

I04p.  35pl.     Nov.  1897.    25c. 
Ar3  (22)   Earthenware  of  the  New  York  Aborigines.    78p.  33pl.     Oct. 

1898.    25c. 
Ar4  (32)  Aboriginal    Occupation    of    New    York.     I90p.    i6pl.   2    maps. 

Mar.  1900.    30c. 
Ar5  (41)  Wampum  and  Shell  Articles  used  by  New  York  Indians.  i66p. 

28pl.     Mar.  1901.    30c. 
Ar6  (50)  Horn  and  Bone  Implements  of  the  New  York  Indians.     H2p. 

43pl.     Mar.  1902.    30c. 
Ar7  (55)    Metallic   Implements   of  the   New  York   Indians.    94P-   38pl- 

June  1902.     25c. 
Ar8  (73)    Metallic  Ornaments   of  the   New   York   Indians.     I22p.   37pl. 

Dec.  1903.    30c. 
Ar9  (78)  History  of  the  New  York  Iroquois.     34op.     iSpl.     Feb.   1905. 

75c.  cloth. 

Perch  Lake  Mounds.    In  press. 

Aboriginal  Use  of  Wood  in  New  York.    In  press. 

Miscellaneous.     Msl  (62)    Merrill,   F:   J.   H.     Directory  of   Natural   History 

Museums  in  United  States  and  Canada.     236p.     Ap.   1903.     30c. 
Ms2  (66)  Ellis,  Mary.     Index  to  Publications  of  the  New  York  State  Natural 

History   Survey  and   New  York   State  Museum   1837-1902.    4i8p.    June 

I903-    75c,  cloth. 
Museum  memoirs  1889-date.     Q. 

1  Beecher,  C :  E.  &  Clarke,  J:   M.     Development  of  some  Silurian  Brachi- 

opoda!    96p.  8pl.     Oct.  1889.     Out  of  print. 

2  Hall,  James  &  Clarke,  J  :  M.     Paleozoic  Reticulate  Sponges.    350p.  il.  7opl. 

1898.    $1,  cloth. 

3  Clarke,   J:    M.     Oriskan'y   Fauna   of   Becraft   Mountain,   Columbia   Co. 

N.  Y!     I28p.  Qpl.    Oct.  1900.    80c. 


MUSEUM    PUBLICATIONS 

4  Peck,  C:  H.     N.  Y.  Edible  Fungi,  1895-99.     io6p.  25pl.     Nov.  1900.    75c. 

This  includes  revised  descriptions  and  illustrations  of  fungi  reported  in  the  49th,  51st  and  52d 
reports  of  the  state  botanist. 

5  Clarke,  J:  M.  &  Ruedemann,  Rudolf.     Guelph  Formation  and  Fauna  of 

New  York  State.     196P.  2ipl.    July  1903.    $1.50,  cloth. 

6 Naples  Fauna  in  Western  New  York.    268p.  26pl.  map.    $2,  cloth. 

7  Ruedemann,   Rudolf.     Graptolites  of  New  York.     Pti   Graptolites  of  the 

Lower  Beds.    In  press. 
Felt,  E.  P.     Insects  Affecting  Park  and  Woodland  Trees.    In  press. 
Clarke,  J:  M.     Early  Devonic  of  Eastern  New  York.     In  preparation. 

Natural  history  of  New  York.    30V.  il.  pi.  maps.     Q.     Albany  1842-94. 

division  1  zoology.  De  Kay,  James  E.  Zoology  of  New  York;  or,  The 
New  York  Fauna;  comprising  detailed  descriptions  of  all  the  animals 
hitherto  observed  within  the  State  of  New  York  with  brief  notices  of 
those  occasionally  found  near  its  borders,  and  accompanied  by  appropri- 
ate illustrations.     5v.  il.  pi.  maps.     sq.  Q.     Albany  1842-44.     Out  of  print. 

Historical  introduction  to  the  series  by  Gov.  W  :  H.  Seward.      178P. 

v.  I  pti     Mammalia.     13+146P.  33?!.     1842. 

300  copies  with  hand-colored  plates. 

v.  2  pt2  Birds.  12+380P.  i4ipl.  1844. 

Colored  plates. 

v.  3  pt3    Reptiles  and  Amphibia.     7+98p.    pt4  Fishes.     15+415P.     1842. 

pt3-4  bound  together. 

v.  4  Plates  to  accompany  v.  3.  Reptiles  and  Amphibia  23pl.  Fishes  79pl. 
1842. 

300  copies  with  hand-colored  plates. 

v.  5  pt5     Mollusca.    4+271P.  40pl.     pt6  Crustacea.     7op.   I3pl.     1843-44. 

Hand-colored  plates  :  pts-6  bound  together. 

division  2  botany.  Torrey,  John.  Flora  of  the  State  of  New  York;  com- 
prising full  descriptions  of  all  the  indigenous  and  naturalized  plants  hith- 
erto discovered  in  the  State,  with  remarks  on  their  economical  and  med- 
ical properties.     2v.  il.  pi.  sq.  Q.     Albany  1843.     Out  of  print. 

v.  1     Flora  of  the  State  of  New  York.     12+484P.  72pl.     1843. 

300  copies  with  hand-colored  plates. 

v.  2     Flora  of  the  State  of  New  York.     572p.  89pl.     1843. 

300  copies  with  hand-colored  plates. 

division  3  mineralogy.  Beck,  Lewis  C.  Mineralogy  of  New  York;  com- 
prising detailed  descriptions  of  the  minerals  hitherto  found  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  and  notices  of  their  uses  in  the  arts  and  agriculture,  il.  pi. 
sq.  Q.     Albany  1842.     Out  of  print. 

v.  1  pti  Economical  Mineralogy.  pt2  Descriptive  Mineralogy.  24+536P. 
1842. 

8  plates  additional  to  those  printed  as  part  of  the  text. 

division  4  geology.  Mather,  W:  W.;  Emmons,  Ebenezer ;  Vanuxem,  Lard- 
ner  &  Hall,  James.  Geology  of  New  York.  4V.  il.  pi.  sq.  Q.  Albany 
1842-43.     Out  of  print. 

v.  1  pti     Mather,  W:  W.     First  Geological  District.    37+653P.  46pl.     1843. 

v.  2  pt2  Emmons,  Ebenezer.  Second  Geological  District.  io+437p.  I7pl. 
1842. 

v.  3  pt3    Vanuxem,  Lardner.     Third  Geological  District.     3o6p.     1842. 

v.  4  pt4  Hall,  James.  Fourth  Geological  District.  22+683P.  I9pl.  map. 
1843. 

division  5  agriculture.  Emmons,  Ebenezer.  Agriculture  of  New  York; 
comprising  an  account  of  the  classification,  composition  and  distribution 
of  the  soils  and  rocks  and  the  natural  waters  of  the  different  geological 
formations,  together  with  a  condensed  view  of  the  meteorology  and  agri- 
cultural productions  of  the  State.  5v.  il.  pi.  sq.  Q.  Albany  1846-54.  Out 
of  print. 

v.  1  Soils  of  the  State,  their  Composition  and  Distribution.  n+37ip.  2ipl. 
1846. 

v.  2     Analysis  of  Soils,  Plants,  Cereals,  etc.    8+343+46P.    42pl.     1849. 

With  hand-colored  plates. 


UNIVERSITY   OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 

v.  3     Fruits,  etc.    8+34op.     1851. 

v.  4     Plates  to  accompany  v.  3.     95pl.     1851. 

Hand-colored. 

v.  5     Insects  Injurious  to  Agriculture.     8+272p.     5opl.     1854. 

With  hand-colored  plates. 

division  6   paleontology.     Hall,  James.     Palaeontology  of  New  York.    8v. 

il.  pi.  sq.  Q.     Albany  1847-94.     Bound  in  cloth. 
v.  1     Organic   Remains  of  the   Lower  Division  of  the  New  York  System. 

23+338p.     Q9pl.     1847.     Out  of  print. 
v.  2     Organic  Remains  of  Lower  Middle  Division  of  the  New  York  System. 

8+362P.  i04pl.     1852.     Out  of  print. 
v.  3     Organic  Remains  of  the  Lower  Helderberg  Group  and  the  Oriskany 

Sandstone,     pti,  text.     12+532P.     1859.     [$3.50] 

pt2,  I43pl.     1861.     [$2.50] 

v.  4  Fossil  Brachiopoda  of  the  Upper  Helderberg,  Hamilton,  Portage  and 
Chemung  Groups.     11+1+428P.  99pl.     1867.     $2.50. 

v.  5  pti  Lamellibranchiata  1.  Monomyaria  of  the  Upper  Helderberg, 
Hamilton  and  Chemung  Groups.     i8+268p.  45pl.     1884.     $2.50. 

Lamellibranchiata  2.  Dimyaria  of  the  Upper  Helderberg,  Ham- 
ilton, Portage  and  Chemung  Groups.     62+293P.  5ipl.     1885.     $2.50. 

pt2  Gasteropoda,  Pteropoda  and  Cephalopoda  of  the  Upper  Helder- 
berg, Hamilton,  Portage  and  Chemung  Groups.  2v.  1879.  v.  1,  text. 
15+492P.     v.  2,  i20pl.     $2.50  for  2  v. 

v.  6  Corals  and  Bryozoa  of  the  Lower  and  Upper  Helderberg  and  Hamil- 
ton Groups.     24+298P.  6/pl.     1887.     $2.50. 

v.  7  Trilobites  and  other  Crustacea  of  the  Oriskany,  Upper  Helderberg, 
Hamilton.  Portage,  Chemung  and  Catskill  Groups.  64+236P.  46pl.  1888. 
Cont.  supplement  to  v.  5,  pt2.  Pteropoda,  Cephalopoda  and  Annelida. 
42p.  i8pl.     1888.     $2.50. 

v.  8  pti  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the  Genera  of  the  Paleozoic  Brachi- 
opoda.    16+367P.  44pl.     1892.     $2.50. 

pt2      Paleozoic  Brachiopoda.     16+394P.  84pl.     1894.    $?-50. 

Catalogue  of  the  Cabinet  of  Natural  History  of  the  State  of  New  York  and 

of  the  Historical  and  Antiquarian  Collection  annexed  thereto.    242P.     O. 
1853. 
Handbooks  1893-date.    7Hxi2j^  cm. 

In  quantities,  i  cent  for  each  16  pages  or  less.     Single  copies  postpaid  as  below. 

H5  New  York  State  Museum.     52p.     il.    4c. 

Outlines  history  and  svork  of  the  museum  with  list  of  staff  1902. 

H13  Paleontology,      i-'p.     2c. 

Brief  outline  of  State  Museum  work  in  paleontology  under  heads:  Definition;  Relation  to 
biology;  Relation  to  stratigraphy;  History  of  paleontology  in  New  York. 

H15  Guide  to  Excursions  in  the  Fossiliferous  Rocks  of  New  York. 
i  -MP-     8c. 

Itineraries  of  32  trips  covering  nearly  the  entire  series  of  Paleozoic  rocks,  prepared  specially 
for  the  use  of  teachers  and  students  desiring  to  acquaint  themselves  more  intimately  with  the 
classic  rocks  of  tins  State. 

H16  Entomology.     16 p.     2c. 

H17  Economic  Geology.     44p.     4c. 

H18  Insecticides  and  Fungicides.     20p.     3c. 

H19  Classification  of  New  York  Series  of  Geologic  Formations.     32p.    3c. 

Maps.  Merrill,  F:  J.  H.  Economic  and  Geologic  Map  of  the  State  of  New 
Y<>rk;  issued  as  part  of  Museum  bulletin  15  and  the  48th  Museum  Report, 
v.  1.  59x67  cm.  1894.  Scale  14  miles  to  1  inch.  Separate  edition  out  of 
print. 

Geologic  Map  of  New  York.     1901.     Scale  5  miles  to  1  inch.     In  atlas 

form  $3;  mounted  on  rollers  $5.     Lozver  Hudson  sheet  60c. 

Th  ■  lower  Hudson  shi  ed,  comprises  Rockland,  Orange,  Dutchess,  Put- 

n. mi,  W  Richmond,  Kings,  Queens  and  Nassau  counties,  and  parts  of  Sullivan, 

ilk  counties;  tls  >  northeastern  Ww  Jersey  and  pan  of  western  Connecticut. 

Map  of  New  York  showing  the  Surface  Configuration  and  Water  Sheds. 

1901.     Scale  12  miles  to  1   inch.     15c. 

Clarke,  J:  M.  &   Luther,   1 ).   D.     Geologic  Map  of  Canandaigua  and  Naples 
Quadrangles.     1904.    20c. 

Issued  as  part  of  Paleontology  7. 


■  '■•';. 


iH 


